One person died and over 20 were injured in a blast at a convention centre in Kalamassery here on Sunday morning, police said. People who were present at the convention centre told media that the first blast occurred in the middle of a prayer.
"Subsequently, we heard two more blasts," an old lady who was inside the centre said.
An officer of Kalamassery police said the cause of the blast or whether there was more than one was not confirmed.
State Industries Minister P Rajeev said the blast site is cordoned off and police and fire rescue have been pressed into service.
Rajeev said that reportedly few of the injured have suffered serious burns.
He said that all medical aid and facilities are available at the Kalamassery Medical College and if required, the injured can be shifted to other hospitals.
The minster said that information about the nature of the blast or if anyone was behind it was not known presently.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George urged government healthcare professionals to report for duty in the wake of the blast.
Another person present at the centre said there were over 2,000 people inside the hall when the incident occurred.
According to Police, a call was received around 9 am about the blast, seeking police assistance.
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 and children were heard screaming in fear.
The video also showed some people trying to quell the fires as the hall was littered with scattered and damaged chairs.
Hundreds of people were seen outside the convention centre post the explosion.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
"Have Come To Celebrate Your Achievements": PM To Indians In Kuwait
3 Accused Found Guilty, 1 Acquitted In 2016 Kollam Collectorate Blast Case 1 Dead In Blast At Firecracker Warehouse In Kerala, 25 Houses Damaged Death Count In Kerala Prayer Meet Blasts Rises To 6 2 Dead, Many Feared Trapped For 17 Hours After Mohali Building Collapse Germany Refused To Extradite Saudi Suspect? Suicidal Empathy, Says Elon Musk 4-Year-Old Boy Run Over By Speeding Creta In Mumbai, Teen Driver Arrested PM Modi To Meet Kuwaiti Crown Prince, Sign MoUs On Day 2 Of Visit: Top Points These Street Dogs in Brazil Became A National Symbol. Here's Why National Mathematics Day: Why It Is Celebrated On December 22 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.