Illegal Firecrackers Kill Four in Chennai, Police Probe Source and Safety Violations

A devastating explosion triggered by illegally stored firecrackers and country-made bombs claimed four lives on October 19, 2025, when a residential house in Thandurai, Pattabiram, partially collapsed, trapping the victims inside amid the ongoing Diwali preparations. The blast, which occurred in the afternoon, not only reduced the structure to rubble but also damaged neighbouring homes, shattering windows and sending shockwaves through the narrow lane. Emergency services were alerted by panicked residents, who reported hearing a thunderous roar followed by secondary detonations. This tragedy underscores the perils of unregulated firecracker storage in densely populated urban areas, where demand surges during the festive season, often leading to makeshift and hazardous operations despite strict regulations under the Explosives Act, 1884.

Fire and rescue teams from Avadi, Ambattur, and nearby districts mobilised swiftly, deploying five fire engines to the scene, but the operation proved arduous and perilous. Intermittent explosions from smouldering debris continued for nearly 20 minutes post-blast, forcing responders to pause and douse the area repeatedly with water. Cranes were eventually summoned to clear the wreckage, though another major detonation rocked the site an hour later, halting progress until safety was assured.

Pattabiram police identified two victims as Yasin (25) and Sunil Prakash (23), locals from Thiruninravur believed to have visited the house to purchase crackers. The remains of the other two men were charred beyond recognition, pending DNA or forensic identification. A fire official described the rescue as "particularly dangerous", highlighting how the confined lane amplified the blast's impact on adjacent properties.

The ill-fated house belonged to Aarumugam (51), a flower vendor residing there with his daughter Hemalatha and sons Vijay (25) and Ajay. Authorities suspect Vijay, who allegedly ran an unlicensed firecracker manufacturing and sales unit from a portion of the home catering to local festivals and funerals, stored goods worth over Rs 2 lakh without mandatory safety clearances from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). Police are probing whether Vijay perished in the blast or evaded it, with forensic teams combing the site for clues on the explosives' origin. Neighbours recounted how the family had quietly operated the setup, blending it seamlessly with daily life until the fatal oversight.

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Avadi Police Commissioner J. Shankar Ganesh inspected the site, vowing a thorough investigation into the explosion's precise cause and potential links to broader illegal networks supplying fireworks amid heightened Diwali demand. The deceased were transferred to Kilpauk Government Medical College Hospital for postmortem, as authorities emphasise stricter enforcement to prevent such incidents. In a state where firecracker-related accidents have risen 15% year-on-year per recent Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services data, this event serves as a grim reminder of the human cost of regulatory lapses, prompting calls for community awareness and rigorous inspections during peak seasons.

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