Blast at Kochi convention center leaves 1 dead, 20 injured

One Woman died and more than 20 persons were critically injured in a series of blasts at a convention hall in Kochi’s Kalamassery, where thousands of members of the Christian denomination Jehovah’s Witnesses had gathered for a prayer meeting. Initial reports said the blasts took place at around 9.30 am near the stage. The blasts took place at Zamra International Convention and Exhibition Centre, where around 2,500 people had gathered for a three-day convention. “The blast took place five minutes after the prayer session started. There was a series of blasts from the stage of the convention hall,” an eyewitness told the media. The police have sealed the hall and have initiated a probe into the incident. Injured persons were shifted to Government Medical College Hospital, Kalamassery kochi. Visuals of the incident on TV channels showed fire rescue and police personnel in large numbers evacuating people from the site. Disturbing visuals of the blast inside the convention centre showed multiple fires inside the hall as people were screaming in fear.Hundreds of people were seen outside the convention centre post the explosion.Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take stock of the situation after multiple explosions took place at the convention Centre.The home minister has also instructed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the NSG to reach on the spot and start an inquiry into the incident, reported ANI. The area of the blast site has been cordoned off and security personnel have been deployed at the blast site. Ambulances were also seen ferrying injured persons.The nature of the blast was not immediately known, but some eyewitnesses speculated it could be a targeted attack.