On Wednesday, the Kerala government announced a judicial inquiry into a devastating fire that occurred at a firecracker unit in Mundathicode, Thrissur district, claiming at least nine lives. The fire erupted while workers were preparing fireworks for the upcoming Thrissur Pooram festival. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened a special Cabinet meeting to discuss the incident, which has been classified as a state-specific disaster. Retired high court judge CN Ramachandran Nair will lead the investigation into the cause of the explosion. The government has pledged ₹14 lakh (approximately $16,800 USD) in compensation for the families of the deceased, which includes ₹4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and ₹10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF). Additionally, those injured will receive compensation according to SDRF norms and ₹2 lakh from the CMDRF. The government will also cover medical expenses for the injured for a period of six months.