Two workers killed in blast at illegal firecracker manufacturing unit near Kovilpatti

Two workers were killed in an explosion at an an unlicensed firecracker manufacturing unit near Kovilpatti on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) night.

The police said a group of workers were making firecrackers in the unauthorised unit located near a temple, west of Puliyankulam under the Kovilpatti West police station limits on Tuesday night. They said accidental sparks triggered an explosion, and the building the workers were in collapsed fully.

Workers E. Malathi, 25, of Pullakavundanpatti in the neighbouring Virudhunagar district, and A. Ayyappan, 30, of Puliyankulam, were killed on the spot. Another worker, S. Soorya Prakash, 25, suffered serious burns.

Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Kovilpatti rushed to the spot and retrieved the bodies of Malathi and Ayyappan. They were sent to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for post-mortem. Mr. Prakash was rushed to Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital for treatment after being administered first aid at the Kovilpatti Government Hospital.

The Kovilpatti West police have registered a case, and further investigation is under way.