Three die in country-made firecracker explosion in Namakkal

Three persons were killed after country-made firecrackers exploded in a house and three more were said to be trapped under the debris in Namakkal on Wednesday evening (September 30, 2026).

According to the police, R. Rajasekaran (55), a resident of Pandamangalam near Paramathi Velur in Namakkal district, runs a firecracker shop in the village. He illegally manufactured country-made firecrackers on the first floor of his house and used to store them in a godown at Kabilarmalai.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday around 4.30 p.m., the firecrackers exploded on the first floor of the house and the house was severely damaged. Rajasekaran and the workers were stuck under the debris, and his son R. Sanjay (22), who was on the ground floor, escaped with minor injuries. In the impact, windows and doors of four houses nearby were damaged.

On information, Fire and Rescue Services rushed from Karur district and Namakkal, extinguished the fire and started the rescue operation. After several hours of search, firefighters rescued two bodies, including Rajasekaran’s wife, R. Sathya (45) and worker P. Malar (42) and sent them to Namakkal Government Hospital for post-mortem.

The firefighters are trying to retrieve the body of Rajasekaran that is stuck under the debris. The firefighters have been continuing their rescue operation for more than four hours and is expected to continue till midnight, as the first floor was completely damaged.

Police sources said that it is unknown as to how many workers were engaged in the work on the first floor and it is suspected that three more workers might be stuck under the debris.

The Tiruchengode Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Lenin visited the spot and conducted inquiries.

When contacted, Namakkal District Collector L. Madhubalan was not available for comments.