Toll rises to 14; DNA tests to be held to identify body parts

Thrissur: The death toll in the fireworks tragedy at Mundathikode rose to 14 with one more person's death on Wednesday. However, as per official reports, bodies of only ten persons have been received intact so far and the confirmed deaths in the incident are 10.Several dismembered human body parts have been recovered from the site and DNA tests are being conducted to identify whom those parts belong to. However, officials confirmed that four persons are missing. Cadaver dogs were deployed to carry out search operations, which were discontinued in the afternoon after realising that there was little chance of locating more bodies or dismembered parts.Officials identified the person who died on Wednesday as Praveen (45) of Pattambi. He was undergoing treatment at Govt medical college hospital with severe burn injuries. Bodies of nine persons have been identified so far. The deceased persons include Sudharshanan (54), son of Vennurparakkundil Arumughan of Pazhayannur; Vasudevan (54), son of Korman of Kumaranellur Madipuram House at Kallur, Palakkad; Suvin (39), son of Vijayan of Puthukattil House at Kundanur, Thrissur; Manikandan (60), son of Mundan of Palliyalil Parambil house at Alamkode, Malappuram; Subramanian (50) of Kottummal House, Perinthalmanna in Malappuram; and Manikandan (50), son of Venkatachalam of Narayana Nivas of Kottappuram in Thrissur. According to an official release, 10 people are undergoing treatment at Thrissur govt medical college hospital, while one person has been admitted to a private hospital.Union minister of state Suresh Gopi, ministers K Rajan, V N Vasavan, R Bindu and Kadannappalli Ramachandran were among those who visited the accident site and those undergoing treatment.