New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a major fire at a fireworks storage facility in Kerala’s Thrissur district.

In a message shared by the Prime Minister’s Office on X, Modi said he was deeply saddened by the tragedy and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. He also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident.

The Prime Minister announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), with Rs 2 lakh to be provided to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

According to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), at least 13 people lost their lives in the blaze, while several others sustained injuries after the fire broke out at the storage facility in Mundathikode area.

Officials said five of the injured are in critical condition, two are undergoing treatment in hospital wards, and at least 17 others have suffered minor injuries.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal also expressed shock and sorrow over the incident, describing the scale of the devastation as deeply distressing. He extended his condolences to the victims’ families and urged authorities to ensure swift rescue efforts and adequate medical care for the injured.

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Meanwhile, Kerala Health Minister Veena George directed officials to ensure specialised medical treatment for those affected. She instructed the Thrissur Medical College to make necessary arrangements and ordered the deployment of adequate ambulance services, including Kanivu 108 units, to assist in the response efforts.