Tragedy at Kochi Stadium eatery raises fresh safety concerns ahead of potential Argentina friendly

A deadly explosion at i'Deli Cafe, located on the outer wall of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, has once again raised serious safety concerns at one of India’s premier football venues, on Thursday.

A cooking steamer blast claimed the life of Sumith, a worker from West Bengal, and left three others- Ali, Lulu, and Kiran—critically injured.

While the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is the proud home of Kerala Blasters FC and a potential venue for Argentina’s friendly later this year, this tragedy has reignited discussions about fire and structural safety within the stadium complex.

A long-standing safety concern resurfaces

This is not the first time that safety issues at the stadium have come under scrutiny.

Back in 2017, during a FIFA U-17 World Cup inspection, Jaime Yarza, FIFA’s Head of Tournaments, had expressed serious concerns over security risks posed by commercial establishments in and around the stadium.

“The situation of the stores is of grave concern; from a security standpoint, they cannot be opened during the tournament. There are stores with fuel tanks, which is a grave safety and security concern,” Yarza had warned, urging immediate action from the state government.

His concerns, voiced nearly eight years ago, now seem eerily relevant as a deadly blast has occurred in one of these very establishments.

The question remains: was enough done to address these concerns?

Fire and rescue response

The explosion took place at 4:23 PM, initially suspected to be a gas cylinder blast, but later confirmed to be caused by a cooking steamer that burst under excessive pressure.

Emergency services responded swiftly, yet Sumith succumbed to severe head injuries before reaching the hospital.

Authorities have since sealed off the area as investigations continue.

Impact on Argentina’s potential visit to Kerala

The stadium, which was once at risk of losing its FIFA U-17 World Cup hosting rights due to safety concerns, is now under the spotlight once again.

With Lionel Messi’s Argentina expected to play in Kerala, this tragedy could force a thorough safety reassessment before any international event is confirmed.

If safety concerns remain unaddressed, Kerala might risk losing out on hosting a global footballing giant, a prospect that has already electrified the football-loving state.

The Palarivattom police have launched an investigation, and officials are expected to conduct a fresh safety audit of commercial outlets within the stadium premises.

Yarza’s warning from 2017 now serves as a chilling reminder of what can happen when safety concerns are ignored.

As Kerala football fans eagerly await Messi & Co.'s arrival, this incident underscores the urgent need for authorities to ensure public safety at one of the country’s most high-profile football venues.