The workers were preparing firecrackers for the Thiruvambady Temple, one of the two primary participants in the climactic displays of the Thrissur Pooram, a major annual Hindu temple festival. According to Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan, all fireworks units preparing for the event had legal permission to manufacture and store explosives in designated areas. K Gireesh Kumar, secretary of the Tiruvambady temple committee, confirmed the group held permission to store 2,000kg of firecrackers for each display. Despite these permits, the cause of the disaster remains unclear. Municipal chairman PN Surendran suggested that high afternoon temperatures and extreme heat may have contributed to the tragedy, though officials noted that the exact number of workers present remains unconfirmed, even as reports indicated food had been prepared for 40 personnel.
This tragedy marks the second major industrial disaster in the region this week, following a Sunday blast in neighbouring Tamil Nadu state that left at least 25 people dead. Such accidental explosions have become a grim routine within India's largely informal fireworks industry, particularly around Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, which supplies much of the national demand. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to establish the facts and fix responsibility for the Thrissur incident. Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that medical experts from other states would be brought in to treat burn victims if necessary, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced financial assistance of 200,000 rupees (,137; £1,582) for the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees for the injured.
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