Kerala High Court registers suo motu case over Thrissur fireworks tragedy

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday registered a suo motu case in connection with the April 21 Mundathikkode fireworks accident in Thrissur district that claimed several lives [Suo Motu v Union of India & ors].

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar VM today also sought the response of the State government, the State Police Chief, the Thrissur Collector, the Explosives Controller and the Cochin Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswom Boards.

The matter will be considered next on June 16.

The tragedy occurred on April 21 at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Mundathikkode that was preparing fireworks for the Thrissur Pooram.

The explosion claimed multiple lives and left several others injured, triggering concerns over the storage and handling of explosive used for fireworks display in Kerala for Pooram and other festivals.

A judicial commission headed by retired Kerala High Court judge CN Ramachandran is separately probing the incident.

The commission had recently visited the blast site and the Government Medical Hospital, Thrissur, where survivors are undergoing treatment. The commission has recorded statements of eye witnesses and injured persons.

Following the incident, the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswom Boards jointly decided to cancel the fireworks display at the Thrissur Pooram this year.