The Kerala government has officially classified the devastating fireworks unit explosion in Thrissur's Mundathicode as a 'state-specific disaster'. This designation accompanies a financial aid package for victims and a judicial inquiry into the incident's origins.
The decision, made during a special cabinet meeting convened on Wednesday, aims to facilitate the planned assistance and measures for those affected. Revenue Minister K Rajan stated that directions have been issued to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority to formalize this declaration.
A judicial inquiry, headed by a single-member commission, Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair, has been ordered to investigate the circumstances leading to the blast. Concurrently, a 'stop memo' has been issued to the Paramekkavu cracker unit, indicating a potential broader scrutiny of operations.
Financial support has been formalized: dependents of the deceased will receive ₹14 lakh. This amount is to be disbursed as ₹4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and ₹10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF). Injured individuals will be allocated sums according to SDRF norms, with an additional emergency assistance of ₹2 lakh from the CMDRF.
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The explosion, which occurred at a unit manufacturing explosives for the Thrissur Pooram festival, has claimed at least 13 lives, with reports indicating some individuals remain in critical condition. Health Minister Veena George confirmed that autopsies for several victims have been completed, and bodies are being identified and handed over to relatives.
"This accident must be declared a state specific disaster to enable the kind of assistance and measures we are planning." - K Rajan, Revenue Minister.
The incident has cast a shadow over the upcoming week-long Thrissur Pooram festivities, which commenced on Monday. Discussions are scheduled between government officials and the Paramekkavu Devaswom and Thiruvambady Devaswom on Thursday to deliberate on the future conduct of fireworks for the festival.
Read More: Kerala fireworks blast kills 13 near Thrissur Pooram festival
Background
The blast occurred at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Mundathicode, Thrissur district. The scale of the event has drawn attention, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressing his condolences. This tragedy follows similar incidents in other parts of India, including a recent explosion at a fireworks factory in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar that resulted in numerous fatalities. The proximity of the Thrissur incident to the Pooram festival, a significant cultural event, heightens its impact.
