The Hindu : Front Page : Blast toll seven; Minister visits accident site

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Saturday, May 06, 2006

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Front Page

Blast toll seven; Minister visits accident site

Staff Reporter

ON-THE-SPOT ASSESSMENT: Water Resources Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan visiting the blast site at Padukkad in Thrissur on Friday.

THRISSUR: With three more people succumbing to their burns on Friday, the death toll in the blast at the Thrissur Pooram fire-works production unit on Thursday has gone up to seven.

According to official reports, the condition of one of the injured is very critical.

With the Thiruvambady Devaswom also deciding to cancel the final Pooram fire-works display, it has become clear that this edition of the Thrissur Pooram festival will be conducted without any fire-works display.

The Paramekkavu Devaswom had already decided to cancel the fire-works display. The two Devaswoms had cancelled the `sample fire-works display.' However, all other items of the Pooram, including the procession of caparisoned elephants, percussion concerts and the colourful of exchange of parasols, will be held as per schedule.

District Collector K. S. Premachandra Kurup said the deceased included Venniyur Radhakrishnan who had taken the contract for the production of fire-works for the Paramekkavu side. The Collector gave the names of the other persons who have lost their lives in the blast as Vadakkekkara Ajish, Thandilath Velukuttan, Vennoor Suresh, Vadakkekara Sudevan, Kunnathuveettil Suresh and Vennoor Satheesh.

Four persons, including a woman, who were injured in the blast, are still in the hospital. Among them the condition of Ramesh, who is undergoing treatment at the Jubilee Mission Medical College Hospital, is reported to be critical.

Water Resources Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan visited the accident site and the residences of those who were injured and killed as a representative of the State Government. Later, talking to reporters, the Minister said all efforts would be made to provide help to the victims of the accidents.

He said the Paramekkavu Devaswom office-bearers had informed him that since the Pooram had insurance coverage, they would be able to take steps to provide Rs.2 lakhs each to the families of the deceased, as insurance compensation. Those who had been injured could get an insurance claim up to Rs.1 lakhs.

The Minister said the Devaswoms had been directed to take steps to repair the houses, which were damaged in the accident. The Devaswom had also agreed to provide an alternative accommodation and food till the repair works were completed.

The Minister said the Government would book all those who were responsible for the tragedy. Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Swaminathan, who is conducting the magisterial inquiry into the blast, had been asked to submit his report as early as possible.

Pavaratty perunnal

The District Collector who was present with the Minister clarified that the district administration had not granted the licence for holding the fire-works display for the Pavaratty Perunnal festival this year.

The district administration had reportedly warned the Perunnal celebration committee office-bearers that they would be prosecuted if they proceeded with the fire-works display without proper licence.

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