The Kerala government has ordered a judicial inquiry following a tragic explosion at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Mundathikode, Thrissur district, that killed at least nine people on Tuesday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan designated the incident as a state-specific disaster and announced an ex-gratia relief of ₹14 lakh (approximately $16,800 USD) for the families of the deceased, alongside additional compensation for the injured. The one-man commission, led by retired High Court judge CN Ramachandran Nair, will investigate the causes of the blast, which occurred around 3:30 PM and was exacerbated by the isolated location of the unit. Currently, eleven individuals are hospitalized, with five in critical condition. The district collector reported that DNA testing is underway for unidentified body parts collected from the site, as the exact number of people present during the explosion remains unclear. The government is also coordinating medical assistance for the injured and discussing the future of the upcoming Thrissur Pooram festival in light of the tragedy.