36 injured, one dead in blast in convention centre in Kerala: Ernakulam District Collector

Kochi: Thirty-six people were injured and one woman died in the blast at a convention centre of a Christian religious group in Kalamassery in Kochi on Sunday morning, the Ernakulam District Collector said.

The blasts occurred during the convention of the Jehovah's Witnesses -- a Christian religious group that originated in the United States of America in the 19th century.

The Collector N S K Umesh said of the injured, 10 people were admitted to the burns unit of the Kalamassery Medical College and of them two, suffering from over 50 per cent burns, have been shifted to another hospital.

Besides that, eight people were admitted in the general ward of the medical college and the remaining 18 were under observation in various other hospitals, he told reporters.

He also said the identity of the woman who died in the incident is not yet known.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday termed as "unfortunate" and "serious" the blast at a convention centre of a Christian religious group in Kalamassery in Kochi in the morning.

Congress MP from Ernakulam, Hibi Eden, who visited the blast site, told reporters that according to one of his friends who attended the convention, there were multiple blasts.

The MP also said that the bomb squad, forensic team, Kochi City Police Commissioner and Ernakulam District Collector were present at the scene.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Vijayan said he has conferred with the State DGP who along with other senior police officers have left for the blast site.

"It is an unfortunate incident. One person died and two others are in serious condition. An investigation has been launched and further details will be available later," the CM told reporters in Delhi where he has gone to attend some party programmes.

"The incident is being viewed very seriously," he added.

CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan, who is also in Delhi, told media that any terrible actions aimed at diverting attention from the Palestine issue would entail strict action.

"When Kerala is standing united with the people of Palestine, any terrible action to divert attention from it will entail strict action. The government and all democratic persons will together condemn it," he said.

Asked whether he was terming the incident as a 'pre-planned conspiracy' to divert attention from the Palestine issue, Govindan said that has to be examined.

At the same time, he said that on viewing it politically in the prevailing situtation, such an incident appears to be part of a terror act.

"That needs to be examined seriously," he said.

To a query if he was saying that the blast was not an accident, Govindan replied how can it be an accident when bomb parts have been found at the scene according to information he has got.

IED device caused blast:

The blast at a convention centre in Kerala on Sunday that claimed one life and injured 36 others was caused due to an improvised explosive device (IED), state DGP Shaik Darvesh Saheb said.

The State Police Chief told reporters that according to the preliminary probe the blast occurred due to an IED. "We are examining it," he said.

"This morning at 9.40 am approximately, there was an explosion in Zamrah International Convention Centre in Kalamassery in which one person died and 36 people are undergoing treatment as per our information," the DGP said.

However, there were conflicting reports about the number of blasts as state Ministers V N Vasavan and Antony Raju said there were two blasts, while Congress MP from Ernakulam, Hibi Eden, said there were multiple blasts according to one of his friends who attended the convention.

"What they have told us is that there were two blasts according to the initial findings," the ministers said.

On being asked whether it was a terror attack, the DGP said he cannot say anything at this stage.

"Only after the investigation can I confirm the details. We are examining all the angles. We will find out who is behind this and will take stringent action against them," the top police official said.

He also urged people to maintain peace and remain calm and asked them not to spread provocative or hate messages on social media.

Spreading of provocative or hate messages on social media would invite strict action, he warned.

The DGP also said that as soon as he reaches the blast site, a Special Investigative Team (SIT) will be constituted.

Inputs from PTI