Kerala Blast: In Kerala's Ernakulam district, an explosion occurred at a Convention Centre on Sunday, leaving one dead and several injured. The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation.
Counter-terrorism units and National Security Guards (NSG) teams have been dispatched to the Jehovah Witnesses Church in Kalamassery, Kerala, following an explosion during the Sunday prayer meeting. This morning's incident resulted in the death of one woman and left 36 others injured, with ten of them in burns unit of Kalamassery Medical College.
Preliminary assessments suggest that the IED may have been an inflammable device, given the severe burn injuries sustained by the victim. The conditions of the other injured individuals are currently under evaluation. The explosion occurred at 9:40 am within the church, where approximately 2,500 people were present at that time.
An eight-member National Security Guard (NSG) team, including an officer, is on the way to Kerala to inquire about the bomb explosion. The team is expected to reach the bomb blast site by this evening, as reported by news agency ANI.
Fire Force personnel recovered the charred body, and there are concerns that the casualty count may increase.
The incident involved multiple explosions that rocked the prayer meeting, although the police have not yet confirmed this. While some individuals sustained injuries in the blast itself, others were hurt while trying to leave the meeting hall. The convention, held at a venue near Ernakulam Medical College Hospital, began on Friday and was set to conclude on Sunday, with more than 2,000 attendees.
"It's a very unfortunate incident. We are collecting details regarding the incident. All top officials are there in Ernakulam. DGP is moving to the spot. We are taking it very seriously. I have spoken to DGP. We need to get more details after the investigation," said Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and took stock of the situation in the state after a bomb explosion took place at a convention centre. He also instructed the NIA and the NSG to reach on the spot and start an inquiry into the incident.
Health Minister Veena George has issued an order mandating doctors who are on leave at Kalamassery Government Medical College to immediately return to their duty.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called an all-party meeting tomorrow at 10 am at the Chief Minister's Conference Hall in the Secretariat.
"The blast site is cordoned off and police and fire rescue have been pressed into service," said Kerala Industries Minister P Rajeev.
(This is a developing story)