Kannur: Kerala police have detained the main accused in connection with the blast in Kannur that ripped through a two-storied building here on Thursday night.
Police are questioning Alavil Anoop Malik (43) at whose rented house the explosion had happened.
Five people were injured and several houses and vehicles damaged in a mysterious explosion that ripped through the house at Rajendra Nagar Colony at Podikkundu on the outskirts of the city late on Thursday night.
The explosion in the house rented by Alavil Anoop Malik was reported around 11.30 pm to the police and the fire force. His 14-year-old daughter Hiba and wife Rahila, were among the injured.
Hiba, who have been admitted to the Pariyaram Medical College Hospital, sustained 40 per cent burn injuries, hospital sources said.
Three of their neighbours also suffered minor injuries, the police said.
Malik was away when the incident occurred.
Soon after the explosion, a pungent smell of gunpowder engulfed the entire area. The walls of around 10 houses, including that of writer T. Padmanabhan, were damaged in the impact of the loud blast.
After the explosion, the debris lay scattered in 100-metre radius of the house, while the car parked on the premises was also badly damaged. The explosion shattered window panes of several houses in the vicinity as well.
The deafening noise was heard by people living about five kilometres away from the house, the police said.
The area plunged into darkness following disruption in power supply caused by the blast.
People in the locality ran out of their houses fearing a major earthquake after the loud noise generated shock waves.
District police chief Hari Sankar, who visited the spot immediately after the incident, said that the blast was caused by explosive materials for fireworks kept inside the house. The police have received information about the persons behind the illegal storage of explosives, he said.
The remaining explosive materials were disposed by the bomb squad.