Three dead, six injured in cracker blast

Thrissur, May 4 (UNI) Three people were burnt to death and six injured grievously after crackers stored for the famed Thrissur pooram caught fire and exploded this evening, police said.

The scattered parts of two bodies were found, They but are yet to be identified. Rescue personnel were still searching for the third person, who was present in the storehouse at Akkaraparambu near Pudukkad, which was reduced to a heap of debris.

The injured were admitted to the Medical College Hospital here.

There were 13 workers in the store and preparations were on for tomorrow's sample fireworks display, ahead of the Pooram on May 7.

The crackers were owned by the Paramekkavu temple, one of the two prominent temples which take part in the Pooram. The temple had permission from the Additional District Magistrate.

The windowpanes of nearby houses also damaged following the powerful blast and the dispensary of the Viyyur Central Jail was damaged by the impact.

The authorities have suspended the proposed sample fireworks display scheduled for tomorrow following the mishap. The fire fighters and police were still present on the site, police said.

UNI XR AA 2016