One person was killed and three suffered critical burn injuries following a massive blast in a firecrackers godown at Tripunithura in Kerala’s Ernakulam district. According to PTI, at least six houses in the vicinity and some shops were damaged and two vehicles including a car were completely charred in the blast.
Councillor Sudha Suresh, Ward 29, said that one person had succumbed to the injuries caused by the incident. As per ANI, at least 18 people sustained injuries in the blast that took place around 11 am.
Fire brigade rushed to the spot upon receiving the information about the blast and the blaze was brought under control.
"At least four persons suffered critical burn injuries and they were shifted to nearby hospitals. We are collecting more details," a police officer said.
The deceased has been identified as Vishnu, a native of Ulloor in Thiruvananthapuram. District Collector Umesh visited the site along and said that a special team will probe the incident. MP Hibi Eden, meanwhile, has urged the government to provide temporary accommodation to the residents whose houses were severely damaged in the blast.
As per PTI, the exact cause of the blast is yet to be ascertained.
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Firecrackers Brought For Temple Festival
An ANI report stated that the firecrackers brought from Palakkad for Puthiyakavu Temple festival were unloaded from a vehicle to the godown located near the temple in Choorakkad in Puthiyakavu area. Locals said the blast occurred when the firecrackers were being unloaded and shifted to the godown.
District Collector N S K Umesh said that the injured have been admitted to Tripunithura Taluk Hospital, Kalamassery Medical College and Devi Nursing Home.
This comes just days after 11 people were killed and dozens injured after an explosion leading to a blaze at a firecracker factory in Madhya Pradesh's Harda.
Videos of the incident circulated on social media, depicting a massive fire with intermittent explosions at the Bairagarh factory on Magardha Road, on the outskirts of Harda town. Thick plumes of smoke were visible, and people were seen running frantically to escape the scene.