Thrissur: One more person who had been hospitalised following the Mundathikode fireworks explosion died at Thrissur Medical College on Monday, police said.

Earlier today, Unnikrishnan from Edappal, one among 38 people present at the fireworks manufacturing unit in Mundathikode where blasts occurred on April 21 succumbed to his injuries. He had sustained severe burns covering more than 80 per cent of his body and had been in a critical condition since the incident.

The death toll has now reached 17. 

Police said two other injured individuals remain critically ill, while four people are still reported missing.

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The fireworks were being prepared for Thiruvambady Devaswom in connection with the Thrissur Pooram festival. The unit’s licence holder had also died earlier due to burn injuries sustained in the explosion.

Thrissur Pooram, often called the “mother of all temple festivals” in Kerala, was held in a restricted manner at Vadakkunnathan Temple this year after the fireworks unit explosion at Mundathikode that killed 15 people.

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The main rituals were held as usual, but celebrations were reduced after authorities and Devaswom representatives decided to limit the festival to rituals because of the incident.

Caparisoned elephants from Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady stood face-to-face as part of the tradition. Officials said all elephants were given fitness certificates after health checks.

Now attention has shifted to the night Pooram. Following the tragedy, fireworks have been completely avoided this year, and the festival is being held only as a ritual observance.

(PTI)