Kannur (Kerala) [India], An elderly man was killed in a steel bomb blast in Thalassery area of ​​Kannur district in Kerala on Tuesday.

The victim has been identified as 85-year-old Velayudhan, a local resident of the district.

According to the Thalassery station house officer, Velayudhan mistook the bomb for a container and took it with him. The blast occurred when he attempted to open it on the cement steps on the verandah of his house, causing an explosion.

The cement shattered due to the explosion and both hands of Velayudhan were broken. Despite being taken to the hospital, he died.

According to preliminary assessment by Kannur police, the cause of the blast was a steel bomb. Velayudhan lost both his hands in the explosion.

Police suspect that the bomb was either stored or left as part of a conspiracy and further investigation is underway.

A team including police and bomb squad personnel, led by Thalassery City Police Commissioner Ajith Kumar, conducted a thorough search of the area to check for additional explosives.

Investigation is underway and more details are awaited.