One youth was killed and three hurt in a blast at a defunct fireworks factory in Vaiyavoor in the district on Sunday.
The accident took place around 6 p.m. when a group of men trespassed into the closed factory premises to consume liquor.
While drinking, one of the men, Kalirasu (27) of Tuticorin, lit a cigarette near a room where chemical powders used to be stored. Subsequently, there was a blast and the room collapsed, killing Kalirasu on the spot.
Karvendan (25), also of Tuticorin and a cloth merchant, and Gokul (21) and Venu (24) of Kancheepuram sustained injuries and were rushed to the District Government Headquarters Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment, the police said.
