Kerala Blast News highlights: NSG team arrives in Kerala post explosion

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Sunday condemned the bomb blast in Kerala saying that “hatred and violence is not the solution”. “Bomb blasts in Ernakulam, Kerala, are deplorable and deeply disturbing. My sincere condolences to the families of the deceased, and prayers for a quick recovery for those injured,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Following blasts in Ernakulam district in Kerala, the National Security Guard (NSG) team on Sunday arrived at the spot where the twin blast took place earlier today in Kalamassery.

Meanwhile, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that a 14-member medical board is monitoring the entire situation following the blasts at the convention centre of a Christian group in Kochi, which claimed at least two lives and left several injured.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday slammed senior BJP leader and Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar for his social media posts criticising him over a blast at a convention centre in Kalamassery, saying it was part of his communal stand.

Without naming Chandrasekhar, he, during a press conference here, sought to know based on what information the union minister made such remarks against him and how a person holding a responsible position could come out with such statements while the investigation was going on.

“What happened in Kalamassery is very unfortunate. Currently, 41 people are hospitalised, 27 people admitted in Ernakulam Medical College…4 people discharged. 2 people have died, and 5 are critical. A special team led by ADGP Law and Order will be investigating this incident...20 members will be in the investigating team. An all-party-meeting has been called for tomorrow”, says Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

BJP national spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi on Sunday said central agencies will investigate the alleged virtual participation of a Hamas leader in a protest programme in Kerala against Israel’s war with the militant outfit.

Kerala BJP chief K Surendran alleged on Saturday that Hamas leader Khaled Mashal had participated virtually in the protest programme organised by an Islamist group in the southern state.

Following blasts in Ernakulam district in Kerala, state Ministers K Rajan, VN Vasavan, Antony Raju, Mayor M Anilkumar and others visited Medical College in Kalamasery and met the injured in the blast at Zamra Convention Centre on Sunday.

According to the latest updates, one more woman succumbed to injuries in Kalamassery explosion.

Taking to X, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the explosion at Kerala's Kalamassery. He wrote, “The bomb blasts during a prayer meeting in Ernakulam, Kerala, are deeply distressing and condemnable… My condolences to the bereaved family, and I hope for a quick recovery for those injured… There is no place for hatred and violence in a civilised society. The govt must conduct a thorough probe and bring the guilty to justice.”

"There should be free and fair investigation…both state and central agencies must be involved, people are waiting for the truth...10-15 years back, a bomb blast happened in Kalamassery itself...this is the lapse of Kerala Police", the BJP leader said.

Kerala Police on Sunday issued a warning against propagating fake news through social media platforms regarding the incident of a serial blast that took place at a prayer meeting in Kalamassery.

"Action will be taken against those spreading fake news," Kerala Police Chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb said in a statement.

The Congress party has condemned the serial blasts that took place at a prayer meeting in Kerala's Kalamassery on Sunday morning. Taking to X, Congress National General Secretary KC Venugopal said, “The Congress Party condemns the blasts that took place earlier in Ernakulam, Kerala today. We demand a fair and prompt investigation to unearth the conspiracy being hatched against Kerala and its tradition of unity in diversity. The atmosphere of Kerala will not and cannot be poisoned by these forces.”

A man claiming to be a member of Jehovah's Witnesses put up a video message on a social media platform claiming responsibility for the multiple blasts at a Christian religious gathering at Kalamassery here on Sunday morning.

Identifying himself as Martin in the video, which was aired on various TV channels, the man alleged that he took the decision as the teachings of the organisation were “seditious.”

"This is a horrific tragedy…I am sure that the law & order enforcement agencies will act in a manner so that there is no repetition of this kind never in future...": Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan said on Sunday.

"We have constituted 14 members medical board that is monitoring the entire situation. We have 18 patients currently in ICU. They are all stable, but two patients including a 12-year-old girl who has got 95% burns and a 53-year-old woman who has got 90% burns. A total of 6 people are critically ill..." state health minister Veena George said on Sunday.

“We strongly condemn the bomb blast attack at a Convention Centre in Ernakulam, Kerala. Hate, divisiveness and terror has zero space in a civilised society. Those who foster violence must be dealt with an iron hand. We stand together with the victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured,” Kharge wrote on X.

Speaking about the blast in Kerala's Kalamassery, minister P Rajeev said, "Police are conducting the investigation…we can only reach some conclusions after a thorough investigation. 6 people are currently in critical condition, total 18 are admitted in the ICU. Efforts are underway to save the lives of all the injured. CM Pinarayi Vijayan has called an all-party meeting tomorrow…everyone must refrain from fake social media campaigns…Kerala always faces such situations with unity…"

Speaking about the bomb blast at the convention centre in Kalamassery earlier minister PA Riyas said, “Kerala govt and health department are doing everything possible in hospitals. Kerala Police is investigating, don’t want to comment anything further on this…”

Security has been tightened at the railway station in Kerala's Kannur post explosion at the convention centre in Kalamassery.

A man surrendered himself at the Kodakara Police Station in Thrissur, reportedly claiming responsibility for the explosion that occurred at the convention center in Kalamassery. The Kerala Police confirmed this development on Sunday. “The person named Dominic Martin has submitted some evidence which we are examining. He claims to be a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses church”, the Kerala Police said.

" It is very sad to hear about this blasts targeting Christian community...it is very depressing...I hold the Kerala govt responsible for this because just yesterday they permitted head of terror organisation Hamas to speak...Kerala govt permitted that programme to happen and 24 hours later, we are seeing the consequences...the Kerala CM , who is also the Kerala Home Minister is sitting in Delhi and doing politics..." said Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar speaking to ANI.

Speaking about the explosion at the Zamra International Convention & Exhibition Centre in Kalamassery, ADGP Ajith Kumar said, "There was an explosion in the function in which around 45 people were injured one person has died. The condition of another 5 persons is serious. The person who died is suspected to be a lady, she died because of burn injuries the other people are also having burn injuries. All the concerned agencies including central agencies are in place and we are looking into it..."

Speaking to reporters after the explosion at a convention centre in Kerala injured at least 30 people, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said, "We are always on alert… we are careful because big cities like Mumbai and Pune are in Maharashtra… We have to constantly take care that no wrong activities take place'

"After the blasts in Kerala, Uttar Pradesh SDG Law and Order Prashant Kumar has ordered all the districts to remain alert. All the security agencies were also alerted… Orders have been given to keep special surveillance in several districts including Kanpur, Meerut, Varanasi, Aligarh, Lucknow, Hapur, Baghpat, Bareilly, Rampur, Agra," ANI quoted UP SDG as saying.

Speaking about the blast at a convention centre in Kerala, state health minister Veena George said that 52 people injured in the blast were admitted to different hospitals among which 18 people were in the ICU. "52 people admitted to different hospitals…30 people are admitted here, out of which 18 are in ICU and 6 are critically injured, among those 6, one is a 12-year-old child. The rest of the injured are in other private hospitals…the dead person has not been identified yet," Veena George told ANI.