Mundathikode fireworks accident; cause is not heat, says PESO, report of Electrical Inspectorate vital

THRISSUR: Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) said that temperature was not the cause of Mundathikode fireworks accident. The assessment of PESO is that there is no possibility of heat being the cause. The authorities of PESO are continuing inspection in the disaster area. Meantime, the electrical inspectorate has completed their examination. Their report will confirm the cause of the accident.

District Collector Shikha Surendran said that 11 of the injured in the accident are undergoing treatment in the hospital, and the condition of five of them is critical. Two are on ventilators. The DNA tests of body parts recovered from the accident site is ongoing. The collector said relatives have filed a complaint that four people are missing. Suresh C A (Kanjirakode), Vishnu (Manakoodi), Abhijith (Kottappuram) and Girish (Kottappuram) are reported to be missing.

The government has announced a judicial inquiry into the accident. Justice C N Ramachandran Nair is the one-man commission investigating the incident. A compensation of Rs 14 lakh will be given to the families of those who died in the accident. The injured will be provided free treatment. They will be given Rs 2 lakh as assistance. The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting held today.

Minister K Rajan had stated that the cabinet meeting had decided to declare the accident as state’s specific disaster. This was announced at a press conference held after the cabinet meeting. K Rajan had also informed that the necessary instructions have been given to the State Disaster Management Authority to declare it a specific disaster.