Kerala convention centre blasts: What has happened so far

Here is all we know so far:

1. 01

   Preliminary probe shows blast was due to IED

   Kerala DGP Shaik Darvesh Saheb said preliminary probe suggests the blast was due to an IED, adding that an SIT will be constituted for investigation. “I would request everyone to maintain peace, and remain calm. I also request that no provocative posts or hate posts should be posted on social media. If anyone posts such things, we will take stringent against them also," he said.

2. 02

   Blast occurred during at Christian group's convention centre

   The incident took place during a Jehovah's Witnesses convention at the centre in Kalamassery, about 10 kilometres (6.21 miles) northeast of Kochi. The group was holding a three-day zonal convention that had seen more than 2,000 registrations, according to local media.

   Jehovah's Witnesses are an international Christian denomination that was founded in the United States around 1870. They are best known in many countries for door-to-door evangelism.

   Jehovah's Witnesses say they have about 60,000 followers in India.

3. 03

   Blast occurred seconds after end of prayer

   Local newspaper Mathrubhumi said at least three explosions occurred inside the convention hall, with more than 23 people injured. The injured have been rushed to hospitals.

   "The explosion occurred seconds after the end of a prayer as part of the day's event. The first blast took place in the middle of the hall. Seconds later, two more explosions rocked simultaneously on either sides of the hall," TA Sreekumar, regional spokesperson for the Jehovah's Witnesses told mathrubhumi.com.

   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.

4. 04

   What CM, health minister have said

   Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the incident was very unfortunate and that the police have taken it very seriously. He said police are collecting the details and cannot provide further details now.

   The health and medical education departments have been instructed to provide high-quality treatment, said Kerala's health minister Veena George, urging government healthcare professionals to report for duty.

5. 05

   At least 10 admitted for burns treatment

   The Ernakulam District Collector N S K Umesh said of the 36 injured, 10 people were admitted to the burns unit of the Kalamassery Medical College and of them two, suffering from over 50 per cent burns, have been shifted to another hospital. Besides that, eight people were admitted in the general ward of the medical college and the remaining 18 were under observation in various other hospitals, he told reporters. He also said the identity of the woman who died in the incident is not yet known.

With inputs from agencies