1 Dead, Over 50 Hurt In Kerala Convention Centre Blast. Man Claims Responsibility: What We Know So Far

One person died and over 50 were injured in a blast at a convention centre in Kerala during a prayer meet. All injured have been hospitalised and anti-terror agencies have been roped in for the probe.

One person died and over 20 were injured in a blast at a convention centre in Kerala. ( Image Source :ANI )

One person died and over 50 were injured in a blast at a convention centre of a Christian religious group in Kalamassery in Kerala's Kochi. Following the incident, government health officials were asked to report for duty and medical facilities were prepared near the site of the explosion. The blast site was cordoned off and police and fire rescue were pressed into service, Kerala Industries Minister P Rajeev said. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan dubbed the incident 'unfortunate' and asserted that the government was taking the issue very seriously adding that top police officials were pressed into action. Home Minister Amit Shah also dialled Vijayan to take stock of the situation and directed anti-terror agencies NIA and NSG to reach the spot.

52 People Hospitalised, 12-Yr-Old Child Among 6 Critically Injured: Kerala Health Minister

Kerala Health Minister Veena George informed about the injured persons saying, "52 people admitted to different hospitals. 30 people are admitted here, out of which 18 are in ICU and 6 are critically injured, among those 6, one is a 12-year-old child. The rest of the injured are in other private hospitals…the dead person has not been identified yet."

One Person Surrendered Claiming Responsibility Of Blast, Kerala ADGP Says 

Kerala Additional director general of police (ADGP) (law and order) MR Ajith Kumar told news agency ANI that one person surrendered at Kodakra Police Station, in Thrissur Rural, claiming responsibility for the last. "His name is Dominic Martin and he claims that he belonged to the same group of sabha. We are verifying it. We are looking into all aspects of this case...The blast took place in the central part of the hall," he said.

Central Agencies At Spot

MoS for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan said the central agencies were already on the ground and the next steps will be decided after details emerge from the investigation. He said, "The central agencies have already started the inquiry regarding this incident. I am sure that they will go to the details of the incident and find out who and what are the reasons for this and who are behind this incident. I would like to appeal to the state government to provide all sorts of medical assistance to the injured. We will wait for the details of the investigations to come out and then we will take the next steps. The central agencies are already there. NIA and NSG are already involved..."

Medical Facilities Set Up, Staff Ordered To Report For Duty

Kerala Health Minister Veena George directed the Director of the Health Department and the Director of the Medical Education Department to provide the best treatment to those injured in the Kalamasery explosion. Hospitals have been alerted. The minister directed all health workers, including doctors, who are on leave to return immediately. Instructions were also given to prepare additional facilities at Kalamassery Medical College, Ernakulam General Hospital and Kottayam Medical College.

Minister P Rajeev said that reportedly few of the injured have suffered serious burns, adding that all medical aid and facilities were made available at the Kalamassery Medical College and if required, the injured can be shifted to other hospitals.

Claims Of Multiple Blasts, Use Of IED Suspected

Kerala LoP and state Congress President VD Satheesan said, "I was told that there were two blasts and there was a fire. First, there was a major blast. The second one was minor. One lady died and 25 persons are in the hospital. Out of 25, 6 persons are in the ICU unit. Around 2,000 people (were present)..."

People present at the site of the blast told PTI that multiple blasts rocked the area and the first one occurred during the prayer meeting.

"Subsequently, we heard two more blasts," an old lady who was inside the centre told news agency PTI.

State Police Chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb revealed that preliminary investigations indicate the use of an improvised explosive device (IED) in the bast, PTI reported.

Investigation Underway To Ascertain Cause

A Kalamassery police officer said the cause of the blast was yet to be ascertained and whether there was more than one blast was not confirmed yet. 

Minister P Rajeev told the news agency that information about the nature of the blast or if anyone was behind it was not known yet.

Visuals of the incident showed fire rescue and police personnel in large numbers rescuing people from the site.

Sunday was the last day of the three-day meeting, which started on October 27. According to officials, over 2,000 people were present at the prayer meeting when the blast took place, news agency ANI reported.