Thrissur fireworks blast toll rises to 14; DNA test of body parts may confirm more deaths: Officials
Thrissur (Kerala) (PTI): The toll in the Thrissur fireworks unit explosion rose to 14 with the death of one more person on Wednesday, even as the district authorities said the number was likely to increase following the DNA tests of the over 32 body parts found from the blast site.
Taking note of the extent of the tragedy, the Kerala government declared the blast a 'state-specific disaster' -- which allows the administration to provide immediate relief and aid -- and announced a financial assistance of Rs 14 lakh to the dependents of those who died in the incident.
The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, which also decided to appoint a single-member judicial commission, comprising former Kerala High Court judge Justice C N Ramachandran Nair, to carry out a probe into the incident.
Following the announcement of the judicial probe, Justice Nair said that the commission may recommend changes to the fireworks pattern, but not a ban on them, as they add colour to the temple festivals and attract people to such events.
He said that the intention behind setting up the commission was to ensure that such a disaster, which claimed so many lives, does not recur in the future.
On Wednesday, the district administration said that Praveen (45), who was critically injured in the blast, died in an Intensive Care Unit of the medical college here.
Prior to his death, officials said that at least 13 people appeared to have died in the accident that occurred on Tuesday.
They further said that the actual death toll may go up after the DNA testing of the over 32 body parts recovered from the blast site.
The district administration also said that of the nine bodies recovered from the blast site, eight have been identified and were handed over to relatives after post-mortem.
District Collector Shikha Surendran told reporters that DNA samples were being collected from body parts by experts from the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Biotechnology and that the test results are expected to be available in 3-4 days.
The Collector also said that four persons were missing, according to information from their relatives, and the number could increase after reconciliation of the details received at the control rooms.
The Collector further said that 10 persons reached home safely following the incident.
Regarding those injured, she said that 11 persons were undergoing treatment at the Thrissur Medical College.
Surendran said that search operations were almost over and steps were being taken to secure the unexploded firecrackers present at the blast site.
In the morning, following the special online cabinet meeting, State Revenue Minister K Rajan announced the government decision to declare the blast a 'state-specific disaster' and the financial assistance that will be provided to those injured and the next of kin of the deceased.
He said that of the Rs 14 lakh financial assistance to dependents of the deceased, Rs 4 lakh would be paid from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and the remaining Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF).
The injured will be given the amount allowed under the SDRF and Rs 2 lakh as emergency financial assistance from the CMDRF, he said.
He further said that the Cabinet also decided that the government will bear the medical expenses of the injured in government and private hospitals for the next 6 months, and the amount required for it will be allocated from the CMDRF as recommended by the District Collector.
Additionally, the medical assistance will also include the permissible amount from the SDRF.
The cabinet also validated the government decision taken on Tuesday to sanction Rs 50 lakh from the SDRF for emergency response, and the District Collector has been given permission to utilise the money for the disaster response, he said.
State Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan said experts from all medical departments are present at the Thrissur Medical College to provide all necessary treatment to those injured in the blast.
Vasavan also told reporters that a meeting of the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady Devaswoms, which organise the Thrissur Pooram festival, the district administration and concerned officials will be held on Thursday at 10.30 am, as permitted by the Kerala High Court.
Following the meeting, a decision will be taken on how to move forward with the conduct of the festival in the wake of the tragedy, he said.
Even as the government announced a judicial probe, Kerala State Police Chief Ravada A Chandrasekhar said that a comprehensive probe is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion.
Chandrasekhar said that an SIT under Thrissur City Police Commissioner has been constituted to carry out the investigation, adding that additional forensic teams from nearby districts have been deployed to assist the probe.
The explosion took place around 3.30 pm on Tuesday at a fireworks unit engaged in cracker preparation for a temple devaswom ahead of the upcoming Thrissur Pooram on April 26.
Firecrackers were being manufactured in multiple temporary sheds located in an isolated area amid paddy fields, and around 40 people were suspected to have been present there.
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As 'God of Cricket' lands in Naxal-free Bastar, CM Sai hails his visit as start of new innings
Dantewada (PTI): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday hailed the visit of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar to the Bastar region, once a Maoist stronghold, saying his tour was a matter of pride for the state and a strong source of inspiration for children and youth.
The Mumbai-based master blaster, a Bharat Ratna awardee, made a rare visit to Dantewada district as part of a grassroots sport's initiative, three weeks after the CM declared Chhattisgarh as "Naxal-free".
Sai, in a post on X, said the visit of Tendulkar to Chhindnar village in Dantewada reflects a transforming of the wider Bastar region, moving from fear towards development, opportunity, and confidence.
"Such initiatives will guide and inspire youth, while Shri Sachin Tendulkar's interaction with children will promote sports, and instil confidence, discipline, team spirit, and positive energy in them," he noted.
He added that the 'Maidan Cup Campaign', organised by the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation and Mann Deshi Foundation, is a visionary step for sports infrastructure, especially in tribal areas, aiding holistic development.
The state government continues to prioritize sports and youth development, he insisted.
During his visit on Wednesday, the "God of Cricket" participated in an event in Dantewada district as part of a grassroots sport's initiative aimed at transforming the once Maoist hotbed into a thriving sports hub and opening new avenues for the youth.
On the occasion, Tendulkar, widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, stressed that hard work, discipline and consistent practice were essential for success, and asserted there were no shortcuts to achieving goals.
The former India captain also advised children to choose friends wisely and strive to become good human beings.
He was speaking after inaugurating a multi-sports ground at Swami Atmanand Hindi Medium High School in Chhindnar village of Dantewada district, developed under a grassroots sports initiative aimed at transforming the once Maoist-affected region into a sports hub.
This was among the 25 grounds developed under the 'Maidan Cup' initiative of the district administration, supported by the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation and the Mann Deshi Foundation as part of efforts to shed the region's strife-torn image and promote sports culture.
The initiative, launched last year, aims to build 50 playgrounds across Dantewada in the southern Chhattisgarh's Bastar region which consists of seven districts.
