Kerala Blasts: Toll Rises To 3 As 12-Year-Old Girl Succumbs To Burns, Over 50 Injured. All-Party Meet Today

The death toll due to a blast at a religious gathering in Kerala's Kalamassery has increased to three.

Kerala Blasts: The death toll in the Kalamassery explosion in Kerala has risen to three after a 12-year-old girl succumbed to burns at Ernakulam Government Medical College. According to Dr. Ganesh Mohan, Medical Superintendent, the girl had suffered 95 per cent burn injuries in the blast. He said she was admitted to the hospital on Sunday and was being treated on a ventilator. According to PTI, the girl has been identified as Libina from Malayattoor.

"Later she became unresponsive to medicines and died today at 12.40 am," Mohan said, as quoted by ANI. Notably, two women who were part of the gathering had died on Sunday.

Giving an update on the status of the injured, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that 17 persons have been admitted to different hospitals, and 12 of them are in ICU. "4 are critically ill, 3 of them are on ventilator. We are giving every possible support... Those who are critically ill have burns above 50-60%... Four are critically ill, rest are almost stable... All of them have burns, but no other injuries are found. They have burns. Let the police conduct the inquiry, they will answer all the questions..." she said.

CM Pinarayi Vijayan said that a special 20-member team led by ADGP Law and Order will be probing the case. He added that an all-party meeting has been called for Monday, reported ANI. 

Multiple explosions rocked a religious gathering in Kalamassery, Kochi, on Sunday morning injuring over 50 people. Kerala Health Minister confirmed that one woman, who had sustained 90 per cent burns in the explosions, has succumbed to her injuries, news agency PTI reported. CM Vijayan had called the incident "unfortunate" assuring that the issue was being taken "very seriously".  Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday directed the NSG and NIA teams to investigate the incident.

Later in the day, an individual claiming to be a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious group has claimed responsibility for the multiple blasts. The man, who identified himself as Dominic Martin, released a video message on a social media platform, subsequently aired on various TV channels, news agency PTI reported.

In the video, Martin said he took this step due to what he perceived as 'seditious teachings' of the Jehovah's Witnesses organisation, as per PTI. Meanwhile, a person purporting to be a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious group contradicted Martin's claim during an interview with a television channel, stating that no such person named Martin is currently affiliated with their organisation, PTI's report mentioned.