Seven Die in Central Kerala Blast, Probe Ordered

Seven people were killed and several others injured in a blast at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Mundathikkode in central Kerala on Tuesday.

Thrissur District Collector Sikha Surendran confirmed the death toll and said body parts recovered from the site will undergo detailed verification to determine the exact number of victims.

The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals. Officials said the explosion occurred in a shed where crackers were being prepared on behalf of a temple devaswom ahead of Thrissur Pooram, scheduled for April 26.

The exact cause of the blast is yet to be determined. An inquiry by the Revenue Divisional Officer has been ordered to examine the cause of the incident and any possible lapses.

Droupadi Murmu, C. P. Radhakrishnan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives.

The Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.