New Delhi: One person died and over 20 were injured in a blast at a convention centre of a Christian religious group in Kalamassery in Kerala’s Kochi. The blast site was cordoned off and police and fire rescue were pressed into service, Kerala Industries Minister P Rajeev was quoted as saying.
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.
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,” a woman who was inside the centre told news agency PTI.
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 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.
The minister told the news agency that information about the nature of the blast or if anyone was behind it was not known yet.
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.
