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"My mother is admitted in the hospital, she came yesterday for the prayer meet. She already has some other issues and now she has got burn injuries on her legs, hands, mouth, and back," said Laxman Prabh, whose family members had come to attend a three-day convention of Jehovah's Witnesses – a Christian denomination – in Kalamassery town of Ernakulam district in Kerala on 27 October.
However, a shocked Prabhu rushed to the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital on the last day of the convention on Sunday, 29 October, after he was informed that three explosions had ripped through the venue Zamra International Centre.
"My sister also suffered burn injuries on both the legs," Prabhu told news agency ANI.
While the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Security Guard (NSG) were deployed to the site of the blasts, along with the Kerala Police, witnesses recounted the horrors at Zamra International Centre.
There were several children and elderly present at the meet, witnesses said.
Cooperation Minister VN Vasavan said most of the injured are from Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Thrissur districts.
Another man in his 70s told the agency that people rushed to the exit immediately after the blast.
"I was standing at the side of the hall, praying with my eyes closed. Suddenly, a shocking blast was heard from nearby. I saw only fire around and ran to the door along with others," he said.
"The blast took place in the centre of the hall. I heard three explosions," another witness told NDTV.
Even as chaos ensued after the blasts and the police and first respondents reached the site, many rushed inside after the blast to look for loved ones and other belongings.
Soon after the accident, many, including the organisers, thought it was an accident.
Speaking to the media, Kerala ADGP (law and order) MR Ajith Kumar said that one person has taken responsibility for the attack and has surrendered before the police.
The woman victim died of grievous burn injuries from the blast, he said.
The poilce or the state government has not yet clarified a terror angle on the attacks.
"We are conducting a thorough investigation, we will find out who is behind this and take strict action," Kerala DGP Dr Shaik Darvesh Saheb told the media earlier.
"There was no specific information," he said when asked about the terror angle.
According to reports, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and took stock of the situation. He also instructed the NIA and the NSG to reach on the spot and start an inquiry into the incident.
Out of the 52 injured, 18 are in the ICU and six people, including a 12-year-old are critical, Kerala health minister Veena George told the media earlier.
"They are all stable, but two patients including a 12-year-old girl who has got 95% burns and a 53-year-old woman who has got 90% burns. A total of 6 people are critically ill," she told ANI.
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