ONE KILLED, MANY HURT IN KERALA'S CONVENTION CENTRE BLAST

Delhi on high alert after twin Kerela blast.

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One woman was killed and 52 people were injured, including five critically, after a series of blasts rocked a convention centre where a prayer meeting of Christian denomination Jehovah’s Witnesses was held. Police said the explosion occurred at 9:30 a.m. at Zamra Convention Centre in the suburb of Kalamassery.

The first blast took place in the middle of the hall and was followed by two more on either side of the room. Eyewitnesses say there were over 2,000 people in the convention centre for the prayer meet. The state police confirmed the explosions as “IED blasts” but said the victim’s death was caused by the fire ignited by the blast.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijay termed the incident “unfortunate”. “We are collecting details regarding the incident. All top officials are there in Ernakulam. The DGP is heading to Kalamassery. We are taking it very seriously,” the chief minister said. On whether he suspects a terror angle, the chief minister said he can comment on the matter only after getting the details. State Industries Minister P Rajeev said that the blast site has been cordoned off and police and fire rescue teams have been pressed into service.