Five Months On, Mundathikode Blast Survivors Battle Trauma, Insomnia

Nearly five months after a devastating fireworks accident at Mundathikode in Thrissur, several survivors continue to struggle with severe psychological distress, including insomnia, anxiety, and recurring flashbacks — symptoms commonly associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The explosions, which occurred on April 21, 2026, tore through fireworks assembly units preparing for the annual Thrissur Pooram. The disaster claimed 17 lives, injured more than 24 people, and damaged around 50 homes in the area.

Survivors hailing from Palakkad, Malappuram, and Ernakulam districts have said they received no assistance for their mental health struggles. Unnikrishnan, a pyrotechnician from Pathiripala in Palakkad, was involved in rescue operations and helped authorities identify the dead. He said the memories of that night continue to haunt him, and he has not received any official help for his condition. Another survivor, Rajan from Kundannur in Wadakkanchery, who was working in Mundathikode on the day of the accident, still suffers from sleeplessness and flashbacks, living with the shock of losing close acquaintances.

In response, the Thrissur District Collector has filed a report before the Kerala High Court detailing a special campaign run by the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP). A month after the incident, the DMHP, in coordination with the Psychiatry department of Thrissur Medical College, identified and treated six survivors living near Mundathikode who exhibited PTSD symptoms.

Peter Joseph, nodal officer for DMHP Thrissur, said those treated experienced flashbacks of the explosion, insomnia, and heightened anxiety. One individual had turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism, and nearly all affected survivors lost their livelihoods for the remainder of the festival season. Joseph noted that only these six individuals came forward to seek help and that they have since fully recovered after follow-up visits.