Enforcing Safety Compliance in India’s Fireworks Industry, A Dire Need to Prevent Preventable Tragedies
Why in News?
A tragic explosion at a fireworks factory in Sattur, near Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district, has once again brought into sharp focus the urgent need for strict regulatory compliance in India’s firecracker manufacturing industry. The blast, which killed 8 workers and injured 5 others, is the latest in a series of fatal accidents that have plagued the industry in recent years. With 79 people killed in 27 such incidents across Tamil Nadu in 2023 alone—including 28 deaths from 15 accidents in Virudhunagar—this recurring loss of life underlines the glaring failure in enforcement of safety regulations and the complacency of both authorities and manufacturers.
Introduction
The fireworks industry in Tamil Nadu, particularly concentrated in Virudhunagar district, has witnessed an alarming number of industrial accidents over the past years. The region, known as India’s firecracker manufacturing hub, is home to approximately 1,000 fireworks factories and 3,000 cracker shops. While the industry contributes significantly to local employment and the regional economy, it also carries a severe risk to worker safety due to the handling of highly flammable and explosive materials.
The frequency of accidents raises uncomfortable questions about the role of both manufacturers and regulatory authorities in maintaining safety protocols. Despite existing regulations under the Explosives Rules, 2008, many units continue to flout norms, placing thousands of lives at risk. The recent explosion at Sattur has reignited the debate on the effectiveness of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) and the need for systemic reform.
Fireworks Accidents: A Grim Timeline
The pattern of accidents in Tamil Nadu’s fireworks industry has shown no signs of abating. According to official data:
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In 2024, 17 accidents were reported, resulting in the deaths of 52 people.
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In 2025, by mid-year, 27 incidents had already been reported, with 79 fatalities, including 28 deaths in Virudhunagar alone.
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The latest explosion in Sattur adds to this tragic list, with preliminary reports attributing the blast to chemical friction during the filling process.
Most of these incidents occur during the summer months, which see extremely high temperatures in the region. Chemicals stored in unsafe conditions under intense heat act as a ticking time bomb. Despite this known risk, many units continue to neglect basic precautions such as preventing sun exposure of explosive packages and ensuring proper ventilation and storage practices.
Key Issues and Institutional Concerns
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Weak Enforcement of Explosives Rules, 2008
The Explosives Rules mandate that no explosives should be left under the sun or exposed to excessive heat. All due precautions must be taken to prevent ignition. Despite these clear guidelines, most units are lax in adhering to them, leading to preventable accidents. There is little evidence of meaningful punitive action against repeat offenders. -
Role of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO)
Every fireworks unit must obtain a license from PESO to operate legally. However, PESO’s limited inspection capabilities, lack of manpower, and a slow bureaucratic process have significantly reduced its ability to enforce safety norms effectively. -
Lack of Accountability from Manufacturers
The manufacturers’ failure to adopt safe production practices has compounded the issue. Many prioritize profits over worker safety, cutting corners on safety equipment, proper training, and chemical storage systems. -
Government’s Delayed or Reactive Measures
The state often responds only after accidents occur. While financial aid is usually announced for victims, little is done to prevent such tragedies in the first place. The absence of proactive enforcement makes the entire system reactive rather than preventive. -
Exploitation of Labor and Use of Child Workers
In the past, children were employed widely in fireworks factories, exposing them to grave risks. While regulatory pressure has helped reduce child labor, the continued employment of vulnerable and poorly trained workers persists, often under dangerous conditions.
Socio-Economic Impact
The fireworks industry supports thousands of families in Tamil Nadu. However, repeated accidents deeply affect not only the injured and the deceased but also create fear and mistrust among communities. The cost of these accidents is multifold:
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Human Cost: Death, injury, and trauma.
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Economic Cost: Loss of productivity, medical costs, compensation, and factory shutdowns.
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Social Cost: Exploitation of the most vulnerable, including women, elderly, and disabled individuals, many of whom cannot find work elsewhere.
These cumulative impacts damage the credibility of the industry and cast a long shadow over its future.
Challenges and the Way Forward
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Strict Monitoring and Surprise Inspections
Regulators must conduct unannounced inspections and revoke licenses of repeat violators. The government must ensure PESO is adequately staffed and funded to carry out its mandate effectively. -
Digitization of Licensing and Monitoring
A digital tracking system should be established for licensing, compliance audits, and factory safety metrics to ensure transparency and accountability. -
Mandatory Training for Workers
Fireworks factory workers must undergo certified safety training. Employers should be mandated to conduct periodic drills and refresher courses on handling explosive materials. -
Public-Private Safety Partnerships
The government should collaborate with industry stakeholders to develop a comprehensive Fireworks Industry Safety Charter that includes minimum safety standards, training modules, and safety ratings. -
Community Awareness and Whistleblower Channels
Empowering local communities to report unsafe practices can act as a powerful deterrent. Confidential whistleblower channels must be established for workers. -
Criminal Liability for Negligent Operators
Manufacturers responsible for fatal accidents due to negligence must be held criminally accountable, not just fined. Only stringent action will deter future complacency. -
Use of Safer Technology
Encouraging innovation and modernization in the industry through the use of automated or semi-automated processes could drastically reduce human exposure to hazardous materials.
Conclusion
The repetition of accidents in Tamil Nadu’s fireworks industry underscores a critical failure in the enforcement of safety regulations. Despite having a clear set of rules, the absence of strict compliance, coupled with lax oversight, has led to a recurring loss of life. The state must now move beyond lip service and symbolic responses.
A collaborative model—where both government and manufacturers commit to a zero-accident policy—is urgently needed. The tragedy at Sattur should not fade into memory as just another statistic but must serve as a turning point to usher in systemic change. A safer, regulated fireworks industry is not only necessary for workers but for the credibility and sustainability of the industry itself.
Q&A Section
Q1: What caused the recent explosion in the fireworks factory in Sattur, Tamil Nadu?
A: Preliminary reports indicate that friction caused during the process of filling chemicals—used to make special fireworks—may have triggered the explosion. Investigations are still ongoing to determine the exact cause.
Q2: How many people have died in firecracker factory accidents in Tamil Nadu in 2025 so far?
A: According to official figures, 79 people have been killed in 27 incidents, including 28 deaths in Virudhunagar alone. The most recent explosion in Sattur added 8 more fatalities.
Q3: What are the key laws governing the operation of fireworks units in India?
A: The Explosives Rules, 2008, under the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO), govern the storage, handling, and manufacturing of explosives. The rules require that explosives be kept away from sunlight, excessive heat, and ignition sources.
Q4: Why do such accidents occur so frequently in the summer months?
A: The Virudhunagar region experiences extremely high temperatures during summer. Chemicals used in firecrackers are highly flammable and prone to ignition under heat, especially if stored improperly or exposed to sunlight.
Q5: What reforms are needed to improve safety in the fireworks industry?
A: Reforms should include strict monitoring, stronger PESO enforcement, mandatory worker training, safer technologies, public-private cooperation, and holding negligent manufacturers criminally accountable.
