The driver attempted to flee when signaled to stop and was arrested following a chase; investigators say the explosives were loaded in Coimbatore and were being transported to a quarry in Thrissur.

A case under the Explosive Substances Act will be registered after the seizure process is completed and the material is documented, with ongoing verification of licensing and safety compliance.

Police suspect the explosives were intended for use in granite or black stone quarries.

Investigations are ongoing to verify the source, legality, and intended use of the seized materials, including their procurement chain and any intermediaries.

Preliminary statements from the driver indicate the loading occurred in Coimbatore and the destination was a quarry site in Thrissur, with the vehicle owner identified as Santhil.

Authorities are verifying the full chain of custody, including procurement, authorization, and whether the quarry destination was legally entitled to receive such explosives, while examining potential intermediaries.

Initial findings reiterate that the explosives appear intended for quarrying operations, consistent with past regional incidents.

The interception followed a late-night pursuit after the vehicle refused to stop when signaled by police.

Officials note that illegal explosive sales are linked to limited licensed agencies and high black-market prices, informing the broader context of the seizure.

The contraband was concealed in watermelon sacks transported from Thiruppur, Dharapuram, Tamil Nadu.

A Palakkad police team seized a pickup van near Palakkad town in Kerala containing over 100 boxes of gelatin sticks and more than 20 boxes of detonators hidden beneath watermelons after intercepting the vehicle during routine checks late on Wednesday.