Daijiworld Media Network - Thrissur
Thrissur, Apr 22: Veena George on Wednesday said nine complete bodies and several body parts have been recovered from the site of the explosion at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Mundathicode.
According to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, as many as 26 body parts were recovered from the site. Officials said the final death toll may change after DNA testing is completed to establish identities.
Till Tuesday night, at least 13 deaths were suspected in the incident, as per KSDMA.
The minister said experts from the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Biotechnology will arrive to collect samples from both complete bodies and remains — including those already identified and handed over to families — for DNA analysis.
“Identification is difficult in this incident as many of the bodies and parts are badly burnt,” George said.
She further stated that 13 injured persons are undergoing treatment at Thrissur Medical College, of whom 10 are in the ICU and two are on ventilator support.
Authorities are also providing psychological counselling to survivors.
The minister said there is still no clarity on the exact number of people present at the unit at the time of the blast. While some estimates suggest around 40 workers were present, a few had reportedly left earlier in the day.
Enquiries are ongoing, and officials said more time is needed to ascertain the exact number of workers present when the explosion occurred.
George said that five autopsies were conducted till 2 am, and three bodies were handed over to relatives after the procedures.
Thrissur District Collector Shikha Surendran has urged families of missing persons to contact control rooms set up at the Mundathicode Village Office, Thrissur Taluk Office, Collectorate, and the medical college.
She also appealed to workers who had left the factory before the blast to come forward and provide information to help identify the deceased and missing.
The explosion occurred at around 3.30 pm on Tuesday at a unit manufacturing firecrackers for a temple devaswom ahead of the upcoming Thrissur Pooram scheduled for April 26.
Residents said multiple blasts continued intermittently after the initial explosion, hampering rescue operations. The firecrackers were being produced in temporary sheds located in an isolated area amid paddy fields.
Authorities are continuing rescue and identification efforts as the investigation into the incident progresses.