The owner of a private firecracker manufacturing unit, reportedly a DMK functionary, in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district, where a massive explosion claimed at least 25 lives and injured several others, has surrendered before a court, while four of his associates have been arrested, police said.
The explosion occurred on 19 April 2026 at the Vanaja Fireworks unit in Kattanarpatti village, around 550 km from Chennai. According to officials, the blast, which took place when dozens of workers were engaged in production, caused extensive damage, reducing multiple structures to rubble and triggering a prolonged rescue operation, as reported in The New Indian Express.
Police said four special teams were formed to trace the owner, identified as V. Muthu Manickam, who had initially gone absconding. He later surrendered before a judicial magistrate. Four others, S. Muthuraj, T. Vairamuthu, C. Vetrivel, and M.K. Muthu Krishna Kumar were arrested and subsequently released on bail, as reported in Hindustan Times.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the unit held a valid licence issued by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), Nagpur. However, officials noted violations, including overcrowding in workspaces, with around 20 workers allegedly accommodated in a room meant for four during manufacturing activities.
Authorities have registered a case at the Vachakarapatti Police Station, and further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the explosion and identify any additional violations.
District officials said that a detailed probe will establish accountability. “After the probe we will know what happened. If there are any violations, we will take action against the owner,” a senior official stated.
The incident also triggered a second explosion during rescue operations, injuring police personnel, media members, and fire and rescue staff.
The tragedy has drawn reactions from national and state leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Chief Minister MK Stalin, who expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
Meanwhile, political attention has turned to the ownership of the unit, with reports indicating that the owner is associated with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, though officials have not confirmed any political link as part of the ongoing investigation.
V Muthumanickam, owner of the Vanaja #cracker unit in #Kattanarpatti where 25 workers were killed in Sunday’s explosion, surrendered before the JM Court in #Virudhunagar on Tuesday. The accused is a local #DMK functionary.@xpresstn@NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/lXHm6ljb6O
— Harini (@harini_1997) April 21, 2026
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