Mundathikode tragedy impact: Thrissur Pooram to be held without fireworks

THRISSUR: Fireworks and sample fireworks will not be held at this year’s Thrissur Pooram festival. The decision comes in the wake of the Mundathikode disaster. However, the festival will go ahead with all traditional rituals.

Paramekkavu Devaswom has agreed to this decision, and Thiruvambady Devaswom has also taken the same stand. The matter will be discussed in a joint meeting of the government and Devaswoms scheduled for Thursday. The state cabinet has appointed Justice C N Ramachandran Nair to conduct a judicial inquiry into the explosion.

Rituals to continue

The Paramekkavu festival committee has decided to conduct the Pooram with all traditional rituals, including Kudamattam and Ilanjithara Melam. When a similar fireworks accident occurred in 2006, fireworks were avoided. Fireworks were also not held during the COVID period. Paramekkavu secretary G Rajesh said the decision reflects public sentiment and the need to protect traditions. Earlier, the Paramekkavu Devaswom had stated that a final decision would be taken after discussions between the Devaswoms, keeping public interest in mind. Thiruvambady has also confirmed that it will skip fireworks.

There will be a mourning period until the 24th. There will be no decorative lighting at the festival venue. The traditional display (Chamaya Pradarshanam) will be held on the 25th. Fireworks materials prepared for Paramekkavu and stored in Palakkad will not be brought to Thrissur. Instead, they will be disposed of in a controlled manner in phases.

One more body to be identified
The bodies of nine people who died in the disaster have been handed over to their families after the post-mortem. One more body has been recovered, but it has not been identified. Four people are still missing. So far, 14 deaths have been officially confirmed. Further details will be announced after examination of the body remains.

The state government has announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 14 lakh to the families of those who died. The injured will receive Rs 2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Additional central assistance had already been announced earlier.

Possibility of short circuit

• The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation said extreme heat was not the cause and is examining the possibility of a short circuit.
• The Electrical Inspectorate has also ruled out heat as the reason and noted the presence of an electric post near the accident site.
• Officials are also checking whether safety guidelines were followed. A stop memo has been issued to the Palakkad-based unit that manufactured the fireworks materials for Paramekkavu.