Thrissur: A worker who was seen singing on camera hours before the explosion at a fireworks unit in Mundathikode is among the survivors of the incident that has left at least 14 people dead and several others injured.

Wilson, a fireworks worker, was filmed by a Mathrubhumi News team earlier on Tuesday while preparing firecrackers at the site. The visuals, showing him singing “Odenda.. Odenda oodi thalarena”, were recorded during routine preparations for the upcoming Thrissur Pooram festival. The same footage was broadcast later in the day, after news of the explosion broke.

The incident occurred at around 3.30 pm, when a fire reportedly broke out in one of the sheds where firecrackers were being prepared. According to officials, around 30 to 40 workers were present at the site at the time.

Wilson said the fire started in close proximity to where he was working.

"There was a sudden flash beside me and then fire… after that, I remember running for my life," he said.

Providing further details, he added, "There was nothing illegal. Maybe the extreme heat or direct sunlight on the gunpowder wick triggered the fire. We usually keep them in the sun to dry; that’s what is generally done.”

 

“Five metres away, I heard a ‘shh’ sound. I suddenly fell over. By then, the wicks that were drying were on fire. I realised something was wrong and started running. The shed exploded as I ran, and when I crossed two fields, the storage area also burst.”

His account indicates that the fire quickly escalated, triggering a series of explosions across multiple sheds.

Officials said the initial fire spread rapidly to nearby structures, resulting in explosions in at least five sheds where firecrackers were stored. The blast led to extensive damage in the area and casualties among workers present at the unit.

The fireworks unit was operating under a licence issued in the name of Mundathikode Satheesh, who is among those injured and undergoing treatment.

Fire and rescue teams faced difficulties reaching the site due to narrow access roads.

The fire was brought under control after several hours. Injured persons were shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Thrissur and other nearby facilities. Several of them are reported to be in critical condition.

The explosion occurred during preparations for the Thrissur Pooram festival, one of Kerala’s major cultural events known for its fireworks displays.