Keralam Government Declares Thrissur Explosion as 'Special Disaster'

Thrissur: The Kerala government has declared the explosion at the firecracker manufacturing facility in Thrissur as a “special disaster,” Revenue Minister K Rajan announced at a press conference. The move is aimed at ensuring swift delivery of relief and assistance to those affected.

An ex gratia of ₹14 lakh will be provided to the families of those who lost their lives, while those seriously injured will receive ₹2 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The government will also bear the full cost of treatment for the injured.

Free treatment for up to six months will be ensured in both government and private hospitals, with expenses directly covered by the state. The district collector has been directed to assess the damage to houses and buildings destroyed in the blast.

An emergency fund of ₹50 lakh has already been released to the district administration for immediate relief measures. The government has also ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident, to be headed by Justice C N Ramachandran Nair.

Search operations are being intensified to locate any remaining victims at the site. DNA testing will be conducted to identify bodies, and a team of experts from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Biotechnology has arrived in Thrissur to assist with the process, the minister added.