Thrissur mishap: 2 body parts recovered, unexploded fireworks found; search by Cadaver dogs continue

Thrissur: The condition of 5 people injured in the Mundathikode explosion remains critical. So far, 14 deaths have been confirmed. Two people are on ventilators, and 10 are undergoing treatment at the Medical College. Postmortem procedures are ongoing, and DNA tests will be conducted on bodies that cannot be identified.

Cadaver dogs have been deployed at the site for search operations. Revenue Minister K Rajan said it is estimated that around 30–40 people may have been affected in the tragedy. Around 40 meals had been arranged for workers at the site of the explosion, indicating a similar number of workers present. Searches are continuing based on this estimate and information gathered from those arriving in search of missing persons.

The minister added that all teams handling disaster management have been deployed, and both search and investigation are progressing. During the cadaver dog search, unexploded ammunition has been found, and the fire force has begun steps to safely neutralize them. Two body parts were recovered from a nearby field. The same cadaver dogs were used earlier in the Mundakkai–Chooralmala disaster to locate bodies and body parts.

Minister Rajan said postmortems of five bodies have been completed so far. “Three bodies have been handed over. Eleven body parts have undergone postmortem, and 15 more remain. Facilities for DNA testing have been arranged to complete the process as quickly as possible. A high-level team and necessary systems have arrived from Thiruvananthapuram. Procedures will be expedited. In addition to doctors at the Medical College, medical teams from Kottayam, Kozhikode, Palakkad, and Ernakulam have also reached Thrissur. There will be no difficulty in providing further treatment,” he said.

Ten people are currently in the ICU. Ministers, public representatives, officials, and doctors coordinated immediately after the incident, the minister added. Cadaver dogs are used only in rare situations, and given the circumstances, they have been deployed for the search. Based on available data, it is believed that between 30 and 40 people were involved in the incident, and search efforts are proceeding accordingly.

Several nearby houses were damaged in the explosion. Thiruvambady Devaswom stated that there was no sabotage. Paramekkavu has demanded a comprehensive investigation into the incident. In the backdrop of the tragedy, there are discussions about conducting the Thrissur Pooram as a ritual-only event, though a final decision will be taken considering public sentiment.

The massive explosion occurred at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Mundathikode that was preparing explosives for the Thiruvambady faction’s Pooram display. The series of blasts began around 3:30 pm on Tuesday and continued for nearly two hours. Fire and rescue teams could not access the area for a long time. Body parts were found scattered across nearby paddy fields, with some thrown as far as 500 meters. Efforts to recover them are ongoing.