Kochi: The death toll in the multiple blasts at a convention centre in Kalamassery touched six after one more person, who was undergoing treatment, died at a private hospital here on Friday. The deceased is Malayattoor native Praveen (26), brother of the 12-year-old girl Libina, who breathed her last on October 30.
He was in critical condition at Aster Medcity in Kochi. His mother, Saly Pradeep (45), died on November 11 after suffering over 50 per cent burns in the blast. The 12-year-old girl was laid to rest on November 4, nearly five days after her death.
Libina, her mother Saly and her two brothers, Praveen and Rahul, attended the convention from its beginning on October 27. Her father, Pradeep, who is a cook, could not attend the convention as he was busy with his work.
The four of them had taken a photo together on the morning of October 29, the day of the blast. Saly and her daughter were seated near the place where the explosion took place. Rahul is also undergoing treatment in the same hospital.
Molly Joy, a resident of Kalamassery who was undergoing treatment after sustaining 80 per cent burns, died on November 6 at Ernakulam Medical Center. Other deceased are Leyona Paulose (55) and Kumari Pushpan (53). Leyona, a native of Iringol in Perumbavoor, was found charred to death inside the hall. Like Libina and Molly, Kumari died while under treatment.
Over 50 people were injured, some seriously, in the multiple blasts at the international convention centre. They had gathered for the final day of a three-day-long prayer meeting of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
A few hours after the incident, Dominic Martin, claiming to be an estranged member of the Christian sect, surrendered before the police in Thrissur district, confessing to the crime. The police later recorded his arrest. It is learned that Martin detonated the explosives set inside the hall using remotes.
