Thrissur, April 22 -- The deadly explosion at a fireworks preparation unit linked to Thrissur Pooram in 2026 has once again exposed a recurring pattern of fatal accidents tied to the festival's famed pyrotechnic displays, raising serious concerns over persistent safety lapses.
Celebrated as the cultural showpiece of Kerala, Thrissur Pooram attracts lakhs of spectators every year with its competitive fireworks and grand temple processions. However, the festival's legacy has also been repeatedly scarred by deadly mishaps, many of them occurring during April-now widely described as a recurring "Black April" in Kerala's festival calendar.
The first major recorded tragedy dates back to 1978, when a fireworks explosion killed eight people, expo...