In the aftermath of the devastating Mundathikode fireworks unit blast near Thrissur in Kerala on Tuesday, authorities have identified nine of the 13 victims, while five bodies have been handed over to relatives after post-mortem procedures.

Thirteen injured persons remain under treatment, with 10 admitted to intensive care units. Two of them, including licence-holder Mundathikode Satheesh, are on ventilator support, officials said.

With the tragedy casting a long shadow, discussions are under way on whether to conduct this year’s Thrissur Pooram without fireworks. The Thiruvambady Devaswom has indicated that it will abide by decisions taken by the State and Central governments, while also holding consultations with the Paramekkavu Devaswom.

Paramekkavu Devaswom secretary G. Rajesh said public sentiment would be taken into account before arriving at a decision. He added that discussions with the district administration would be held and that the Devaswom would follow the government’s directive, even as a detailed investigation into the accident continues.

Priority is currently being given to conducting the last rites of the deceased and extending support to affected families, Devaswom authorities said.

Special Cabinet meeting

A special Cabinet meeting is scheduled to be held to review the situation.

District Collector Shikha Surendran said Government Medical College Hospital, Thrissur, is fully equipped to handle the emergency. Doctors from medical college hospitals in Palakkad and Ernakulam have been deployed to assist.

Also read: Fire accidents since Independence – A timeline

DNA tests

For unidentified remains, DNA testing procedures have been initiated. Body parts that could not be immediately identified have been preserved in the mortuary, and experts from the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology have been brought in to carry out scientific identification.