Explosion at a temple firecracker storage unit in Thripunithura.
| Photo Credit: File
The Kerala government has sanctioned ₹10 lakh each as compensation from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) to the families of two persons who were killed in the explosion at a temporary firecracker storage unit at Choorakadu, Thripunithura, in Ernakulam district of Kerala in February 2024.
The blast ripped through a stockpile of firecrackers “illegally stored” by the Vadakkumbaghom Karayogam for a fireworks display at the Puthiyakavu Bhagavathy temple on February 12, 2024. Besides the loss of two lives, it had caused damage of varying degrees to 312 households in the neighbourhood.
A report dated April 28, 2026 filed by the Ernakulam District Collector before the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal included a copy of the order by the Revenue department, sanctioning ₹10 lakh each relief from the CMDRF to the dependents of Vishnu A. of Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram, and Anil S. of Shooranad, Kollam, who were killed in the explosion.
The Principal Bench of the tribunal in New Delhi had initially taken suo motu notice of the report published in The Hindu on the tragedy. It had directed the Collector and the authorities to ensure that the payment of compensation was made expeditiously to the family members of the deceased victims and also the injured in accordance with rules, preferably within a period of eight weeks. The case was later transferred to the Southern Bench.
The Revenue department’s order on the compensation dated March 14, 2026 stated that the Ernakulam District Collector will take necessary steps to recover the compensation from the person concerned/organisers (of the fireworks display) and remit it to the CMDRF, once the liability is fixed.
However, the District Collector’s report said that the district administration is yet to receive a directive from the government on the compensation of ₹20 lakh each recommended by the tribunal to the families of the victims. The amount ordered as compensation by the tribunal exceeded the quantum of ex-gratia assistance typically provided by the State government for accidental deaths under the existing schemes and norms, it said. The tribunal had also recommended ₹10 lakh each to the injured. The District Collector informed that nobody had sustained serious injuries in the incident. The financial assistance is required only for the families of the victims, it said.
Published – May 20, 2026 05:20 pm IST
