Thrissur firecracker blast: 9 bodies, 26 body parts recovered

Keralam Health Minister Veena George on Wednesday confirmed that nine complete bodies and 26 body parts have been recovered from the site of a devastating explosion at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Thrissur district’s Mundathicode.According to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), the final death toll may change as the recovered body parts undergo DNA testing for identification. Till Tuesday night, at least 13 fatalities were suspected in the incident.
The minister said experts from the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Biotechnology will arrive to collect samples from both the recovered bodies and body parts—including those already identified and handed over to families after autopsy—for detailed DNA analysis. “Identification is difficult in this incident as many of the bodies and parts are badly burnt,” she said.
George added that 13 injured persons are currently undergoing treatment at Thrissur Medical College, of whom 10 are in the intensive care unit (ICU). Two of the critically injured are on ventilator support. Psychological assistance is also being extended to survivors coping with trauma.Authorities said there is still no clarity on the exact number of people present at the unit when the explosion occurred. While some estimates suggest around 40 workers were at the site, a few had reportedly left earlier in the day. Ongoing inquiries are expected to determine the precise number of workers present during the blast.
Assembly LoP & Congress Leader VD Satheesan, along with Party Leader Ramesh Chennithala, visit the accident spot where the fire broke out at a fireworks storage facility in Mundathikode, and 13 people died, as confirmed by Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA).VD Satheesan says, “This is a very serious matter; it will be investigated in detail. This is a very dangerous incident, and it needs security arrangements. Any lapses in the arrangements have to be investigated by a judicial agency…Let the commission report come; the incident should not be repeated in the future. Earlier, we took some measures and actions, but unfortunately, it is not implemented in many places. The Keralam government must help people and their families in all possible ways.”

#WATCH | Thrissur, Keralam: Assembly LoP & Congress Leader VD Satheesan, along with Party Leader Ramesh Chennithala, visit the accident spot where the fire broke out at a fireworks storage facility in Mundathikode, and 13 people died, as confirmed by Kerala State Disaster… pic.twitter.com/vbrhH2PZxU

— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2026

The explosion, which occurred around 3:30 pm on Tuesday, triggered multiple intermittent blasts, severely hampering rescue operations. The unit, located in an isolated area amid paddy fields, was engaged in manufacturing firecrackers in temporary sheds ahead of the upcoming Thrissur Pooram on April 26.Five autopsies had been conducted till 2 am, and three bodies were handed over to families following post-mortem procedures, the minister said.
Thrissur District Collector Shikha Surendran, in a statement, said that if anyone involved in the fireworks work at the scene was still missing, the relatives should contact the control rooms at Mundathikode Village Office -- 8547614620, Thrissur Taluk Office -- 04884232226, Thrissur Collectorate -- 9447074424 and the medical college -- 8075011853.