2024 Virudhunagar explosions

At 12:30 IST 17 February 2024, an explosion at a fire cracker manufacturing unit at Ramuthevanpatti village in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu. The factory was involved in the production of fire crackers and the inflammable chemicals, resulted in a fire and further explosions. The fire started in the chemical mixing room and spread to nearby areas, resulting in the explosion. Ten people were killed and more than seven were injured in the explosion.^[3][2] On 29 June 2024, a similar explosion at a fire cracker unit near Sattur resulted in a fire, that killed four people and injured one. The fire started when chemicals used in the manufacture ignited.^[4][5]

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force (TNDRF) and Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services were involved in fire control, search and rescue operations. The injured were rescued and treated in nearby hospitals.^[6] Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. K. Stalin announced an ex-gratia of ₹300,000 (US$3,500) for the next of the kin who were killed.^[1][7]