Two people were injured after a stockpile of firecrackers exploded at their house at Kadamboor, Ambalappara, near Ottappalam, in the early hours of Thursday. The house in which the firecrackers were stored was destroyed, and three nearby houses were damaged. The injured were Janaki, 70, and her son Shajesh Kumar, 35.
Janaki sustained serious injuries to her head and hand. Both the injured were initially taken to Government Taluk Hospital, Ottappalam. Janaki was later shifted to a private hospital at Vaniyamkulam.
The police suspect that local firecrackers made using palm leaves were stored illegally inside the house and may have caused the explosion. They also suspect that the firecrackers were manufactured there without a licence. Wicks used to make the firecrackers were found scattered at the site.
Case in 2024
The police said a case had been registered against the duo at the Ottappalam police station in 2024 for illegally storing firecrackers. A fresh case was registered under the Explosives Act, and an investigation is under way to determine the cause of the blast.
The explosion shattered the windowpanes of three neighbouring houses. The roof of one house was damaged, and its drinking water connection destroyed. Around 20 windowpanes of another house were shattered. Smoke was seen rising from the house when the police arrived. Local residents put out the fire by pouring water. A gas leak from the kitchen also raised concern.
A forensic team and the bomb squad inspected the site. A police team led by Shoranur Dy.SP K.C. Vinu, Special Branch Dy.SP M. Santhosh Kumar, Ottappalam Inspector A. Ananthakrishnan and sub-inspector K. Shiju also examined the scene.
Ambalappara panchayat president K. Radhakrishnan, vice-president Souda Saleem, standing committee chairpersons K. Krishna Prakash, M.G. Latha and K.T. Shameer, and ward member A. Vijitha visited the site.
Published - October 22, 2026 07:39 pm IST