Thrissur: Nearly a month after the devastating fireworks tragedy at Mundathikode in Thrissur claimed 16 lives, the judicial commission appointed to investigate the explosion has yet to commence its proceedings. Justice C N Ramachandran Nair, who serves as the one-man commission tasked with probing the incident, stated that he is awaiting formal communications from the newly formed government to initiate the inquiry.
Background of the Tragedy
The accident occurred on April 21 at a unit manufacturing fireworks intended for the Thrissur Pooram festival. The explosion resulted in significant casualties and raised serious concerns about safety protocols in such facilities.
Commission's Status and Challenges
Justice Nair revealed that the commission has not yet been allocated an office or staff to facilitate the inquiry. The outgoing government had only issued the order outlining the terms of reference for the investigation. According to this order, the probe will cover multiple aspects, including the root causes of the accident, potential lapses by officials, and recommendations for conducting fireworks displays with reduced hazards.
Meanwhile, the statutory magisterial inquiry into the incident is being conducted by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Manoj. This parallel investigation is also expected to delve into the reasons behind the explosion. ADM Manoj confirmed that some individuals have already been questioned as part of the process.
Police Investigation and Forensic Analysis
ACP Abdul Nisar, who heads the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the explosion, reported that the police are still awaiting the forensic analysis reports on samples collected from the accident site. The ACP emphasized that only after receiving these reports can authorities determine whether any banned chemicals were used in the unit. He noted that the unit held a license to stock only 15 kilograms of explosives, but authorities seized significantly larger quantities from the site following the accident. This indicates that the unit was stockpiling explosives far beyond the permitted limit.
Additionally, Nisar mentioned that the police are waiting for experts from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) to safely dispose of the seized explosives. The disposal process is critical to prevent any further hazards.
