Thrissur: Kerala has ordered a judicial probe into the devastating firecracker unit blast in Thrissur that killed at least 13 people, even as officials warned the toll could rise with unidentified body parts recovered from the site. The explosion occurred at Mundathicode while workers were reportedly preparing fireworks for a sample display linked to the upcoming Thrissur Pooram festival.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened a special Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, following which the government announced a judicial commission inquiry headed by retired High Court judge C N Ramachandran Nair. The panel has been tasked with determining the cause of the blast and submitting a report.
The state also announced compensation of Rs 14 lakh for the families of each victim. This includes Rs 4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund and Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. Those injured will receive assistance under SDRF norms along with an additional Rs 2 lakh from the CMDRF.
The Kerala government has classified the incident as a “state-specific disaster” and said it would bear medical treatment costs of the injured for six months.
The tragedy has once again raised serious questions over safety standards at fireworks manufacturing and storage facilities in Kerala, where firecracker displays are deeply tied to temple festivals such as Thrissur Pooram. Authorities are now expected to examine licensing, storage practices and enforcement mechanisms as part of the inquiry
