At least 25 people have been killed in an explosion at a firecracker factory in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with four others seriously injured.

The blast occurred at the Vanaja Fireworks Industry in Virudhunagar on Sunday evening.

A second explosion occurred while rescue operations were on, injuring 13 more people, though none sustained serious burns, District Collector NO Sukhaputra told ANI news agency.

The cause of the blast is not yet known and an investigation is under way

An eyewitness, who is being treated for injuries, said that around 25 people were working in the veranda in front of the factory when the fire broke out, damaging at least three rooms and reducing parts of the building to rubble.

Rescue operations – which have now concluded – were then significantly slowed down as firecrackers continued to explode inside the building.

A complaint has been filed against the factory owner and foreman, both of whom are absconding, police said, adding that four special teams have been set up to trace and arrest them.

Meanwhile, efforts to identify the victims continued on Monday. District officials said that 22 of the 25 dead had been identified so far – most of them are women.

Some reports say the force of the blast left several bodies charred beyond recognition.

Accidents at fireworks factories in India are not uncommon.

The industry supplies firecrackers for weddings, festivals and other ceremonies and has faced repeated scrutiny over safety standards.

As the investigation continues, questions are being raised about possible safety violations.

Speaking to reporters, district collector Sukhaputra said the factory should not have been operating on a Sunday, calling it a “first violation”.

He added that it held a valid licence, but that checks into other possible breaches were under way.

The tragedy also prompted swift responses from politicians.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as “deeply distressing” and offered condolences to the families of those killed.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said the deaths had caused “immense sorrow” and that he had instructed officials to ensure all necessary assistance.

The Federal Government has commenced a comprehensive review of agricultural curricula in polytechnics and colleges of education to address widening skills gaps and revive youth interest in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Agriculture Curriculum Review Implementation Committee, Prof.

Bugaje, who is also the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), said many agricultural programmes had remained unchanged for more than 15 years.

He said the outdated curricula had become unattractive to young Nigerians and misaligned with industry needs.

According to him, the review will cover all 33 National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) agricultural curricula, alongside more than 32 National Occupational Standards.

Bugaje said past funding for curriculum review was grossly inadequate.

He noted that about N50 million was previously allocated annually to review over 320 curricula and more than 100 occupational standards nationwide.

“The work before this committee is critical because agriculture remains the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy.

“It employs a large number of Nigerians and contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Unfortunately, admissions into agricultural programmes have been declining because the curricula are no longer attractive or responsive to current realities,” he said.

Bugaje added that the review would prioritise practical, industry-driven training rather than purely academic content.

He said private sector participation would be strengthened to ensure graduates acquire relevant skills aligned with modern agriculture and global best practices.

The NBTE boss said four thematic groups covering crops and agronomy, livestock, fisheries, and forestry would develop implementation timelines.

He added that the groups would also recommend industry resource persons for the exercise.

Bugaje noted that undergraduate agricultural programmes under the National Universities Commission (NUC) would not be reviewed immediately.

He said this was in line with the commission’s five-year curriculum review cycle.

He added that the exercise would instead focus on programmes supervised by NBTE and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).

Bugaje commended the Ministers of Education, the Minister of State for Agriculture, and the Minister of Livestock Development for their collaboration.

He said their efforts facilitated the establishment of the committee.

The Executive Secretary of NCCE, Dr. Angela Ajala, said Nigeria must urgently shift agricultural education from theory to hands-on practice.

Ajala said this was necessary to address manpower shortages in extension services and specialised farm operations.

She said the decline in trained agricultural extension officers and technical experts underscored the need for a forward-looking curriculum.

“If Nigeria must secure its agricultural future, training must move from classroom theory to practical competence,” she said.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Abubakar Dabban, said the council was committed to producing industry-ready graduates.

Dabban, represented by Dr. Oluwafemi Salako, Director of the Plant Resources Department, said the council would provide technical support for the exercise.

He said ARCN supervised 19 national agricultural research institutes and 17 federal colleges of agriculture.

He added that the council would strengthen research, training, and extension linkages.

An international expert representing the Sector Skills Council for Agriculture, Pascal Durand-Carrier, said ongoing skills-gap surveys would support the review.

Durand-Carrier said the surveys were being conducted in collaboration with international partners.

He said the effort would help align training with labour market demands and strengthen collaboration between academia and industry.

Participants at the workshop expressed optimism that the review would produce modern, market-driven curricula.

They said the outcome would attract young Nigerians to agriculture and enhance national food security. 

FirstBank has confirmed its sponsorship of the Global Trade Review (GTR) West Africa 2026 conference scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in Lagos.

The event will be held at Eko Hotel and Suites, convening stakeholders across West Africa’s trade and finance ecosystem.

No fewer than 450 delegates from 200 companies and 15 countries are expected, with 45 speakers leading discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions.

The conference will offer actionable insights and forward-looking analysis on regional trade, covering agribusiness, commodities, risk mitigation and infrastructure development.

Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, said: “FirstBank remains committed to driving trade and investment across sub-Saharan Africa.

“We leverage our presence across six West African subsidiaries to enhance business growth and strengthen regional trade integration.”

Ijabiyi noted that adopting platforms such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System had improved transaction efficiency across African markets.

“PAPSS supports SMEs and corporates while boosting competitiveness across the continent,” he said.

Speakers include economic analysts and industry leaders such as Nneka Korley-Ndahi, Oluseye Thomas, Queenette Durosinmi-Etti, Adesanmi Adedayo, Innocent Isichei and Karim Ezzeddine.

Ijabiyi said the sponsorship underscored FirstBanks’s commitment to stimulating economic growth and strengthening trade capabilities across West Africa.

He added that the bank’s participation aligned with its goal of positioning itself as a thought leader in regional trade and finance. (NAN)