Woman killed, several injured in explosion at a convention centre in Kerala’s Kalamassery

One person was killed and more than 30 people injured in a fire that broke out inside a large convention centre at Kalamassery near Kochi after what eye-witnesses said were a series of blasts inside the hall around 9.30 a.m. The woman, who died of burns, has not been identified yet.

The prayer meeting at the Zamra International Convention Centre was organised by Jehovah’s Witnesses, a restorationist Christian denomination, which has a growing number of followers in Kerala.

One of those attending the prayer meeting said there would have been around 2,000 people inside the hall. He confirmed the number because, he said, the attendance at a programme on Saturday evening was around 2,000.

The injured, including a child, have been admitted to a private hospital near the blast site. The condition of five of them are reported to be serious. All of them have sustained burn injuries, according to initial reports.

The Kalamassery police, citing reports that had come in so far, said that the injured persons were immediately shifted to the hospital while the body of the woman who died was taken to the Government Medical College, close to the convention centre where the blast took place.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the blast as ‘unfortunate’. He said that the situation is being viewed seriously.

Ernakulam District Collector N.S.K. Umesh said of the 36 injured, 10 people were admitted to the burns unit of the Kalamassery Medical College and of them two, suffering from over 50% burns, have been shifted to another hospital.

Besides that, eight people were admitted in the general ward of the medical college and the remaining 18 were under observation in various other hospitals, he told reporters in Kochi.

Blast due to an IED: Kerala DGP

The blast at the convention centre in Kalamassery was due to an IED, according to preliminary probe, said the Kerala DGP. The police is investigating all angles, and an SIT will be constituted to carry out the investigation, he added.

He also warned the public against spreading provocative or hateful messages on social media and promised stringent action against those who did so.

Blast occurred in middle of a prayer

Earlier in the day, Additional District Magistrate, Ernakulam and local government body representatives arrived at the site. An eye witness, who is a delegate from nearby Kolencherry, said he was right at the back of the stage from where the prayers were being led.

He said those at the back of the hall could get the smell of burning plastic initially before a deafening sound rent the air. This was followed by a column of smoke and fire bellowing out of a spot close to the place from where the sound system was being controlled. Soon there were two more blasts, which triggered panic among those gathered and they began to rush out of the hall.

By this time, smoke had enveloped most of the hall, the smoke being thicker in the middle of the hall. Some of the others inside the hall, who were shaken by the blasts, felt that the blast had taken place in the middle of the hall and not behind.

Police arrived on the scene immediately after the blasts and sealed off the exit from the hall, preventing vehicles from leaving the premises. People inside the hall were allowed to move to a more open space even as their vehicles were held back for detailed checks. Those who came to attend the prayer meeting included old people and children.

Amit Shah speaks to CM Vijayan

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Mr. Vijayan and took stock of the situation. He has also directed the National Security Guard (NSG) and the anti-terror probe agency National Investigation Agency (NIA) to send teams to Kerala to assist the State Government for investigation.

Meanwhile, Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan, accompanied by Congress MLAs and MPs from the region, visited the Govt Medical College in Ernakulam to check on those admitted there with injuries sustained in the blast and stampede at the convention centre.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George urged government healthcare professionals to report for duty in the wake of the blast.

(With inputs from Agencies)