One killed, another injured in firecracker blast at church n Kadathy

Kochi: One person was killed and another sustained serious injuries following a firecracker blast at St Peter's and St Paul's Church in Kadathy, Muvattupuzha. The blast occurred while a firecracker was being refilled with gunpowder on Sunday morning.The deceased was identified as Ravi Krishnan, 68, a resident of Kadathy. The injured person was a contractor named James, 46, of Valakom. He was admitted to Kolenchery Medical College with severe burns, said sources. The incident occurred while Ravi and James were filling crackers in a room where fireworks were stored for the church festival. A major tragedy was averted since a mass was being held in the church at the time of the incident, and there were not many people near the explosion site. Muvattupuzha police registered a case and began an investigation. The FIR named three persons, including Fr Biju Varkey, as accused in the case. The other accused are Sabu Paul and Eldho C M. As per the FIR, the accused made arrangements for refilling the firecracker at the church building without obtaining any necessary permissions or following safety guidelines. The case was registered under Sections 106(1) and 125(b) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant sections of the Indian Explosives Act. This was not the first time such a mishap claimed a life in Ernakulam. In Feb 2024, two persons were killed and 16 others, including women and children, were injured in a massive blast at an illegal firecrackers warehouse in Tripunithura. The explosion resulted in severe damage to over 25 houses and some nearby shops. Additionally, two vehicles were completely charred in the blast.