Thrissur fireworks tragedy: Centre tells Kerala HC that unit deployed more workers than permitted
The Indian government informed the Kerala High Court that a fireworks manufacturing unit involved in a fatal explosion had violated safety regulations by employing excess workers. Legal proceedings and multiple inquiries are currently underway to address the incident and prevent future tragedies.
Why it matters
This highlights the critical need for strict enforcement of industrial safety standards in high-risk manufacturing sectors.
The Central government and the Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives recently informed the Kerala High Court that the fireworks manufacturing unit at Mundathikode in Thrissur had deployed more workers than the permissible limit. This was established from the number of people injured and killed in the explosion that occurred in April 2026.
Fireworks items were being carried in the open, and the mandatory safety zones were not maintained between the various areas of manufacturing, the court was informed.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V.M. Syamkumar was considering reports by stakeholders in the incident on the progress on the steps taken to regulate the manufacture and sale of explosive fireworks, the inquiry into the explosion at Mundathikode, and the compensation given to the victims.
The Kerala government informed the court that an inquiry committee constituted by it would file a report on the fireworks explosion shortly.
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