At least two persons were killed and four others injured in a powerful explosion at an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit in Kozhikode district of Kerala late on Saturday night, police said. The incident occurred late at Mele Kurikkathur near Kunnamangalam.
According to City Police Commissioner Merin Joseph, the deceased have been identified as Rahul (32), the owner of the house where the blast took place, and his relative Rahul (24).
Police said the explosion occurred while firecrackers were allegedly being manufactured inside the house, reportedly owned by an individual named Baby. The injured include Vishnu and Sini—tenants at the house—their young child, and a relative identified as Hindith. All four are currently undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.
Local residents said they were unaware of the illegal unit operating in the area until the explosion occurred. The blast caused extensive damage, destroying a portion of the tiled house and an adjacent shed. Nearby houses belonging to residents identified as Ramani, Balan, and Valsala also sustained significant structural damage.
Officials described the scene as devastating, with debris scattered across the area. With assistance from the fire force, police recovered and safely neutralised a large quantity of illegal firecrackers from the site.
According to Gram Panchayat President C.V. Shamjith, the unit was functioning without a valid licence and was primarily involved in producing “Ola Padakkam” (palm-leaf crackers), for which licences are currently not issued. He has called for a high-level investigation into the incident.
Senior officials, including Inspector General Rajpal Meena, Commissioner Merin Joseph, and State Special Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police N. Biswas, visited the site for a preliminary inspection.
Police also seized a substantial quantity of raw materials used in firecracker manufacturing. A case has been registered by Kunnamangalam Police, and the area has been cordoned off with security personnel deployed.
While authorities are verifying the licensing status, officials indicated that the scale of the operation suggests a significant illegal enterprise. Investigators suspect that the firecrackers were being manufactured and stored to meet demand ahead of the Vishu festival and the ongoing election season.
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