The afternoon of April 21 had all the warmth of a festival day. At Seljo Francis’ home at Mundathikode, about 16 kilometres from Thrissur, laughter spilled into the courtyard as nearly three dozen relatives and friends gathered for the annual feast of St. John the Evangelist, Kuttamkulam. After lunch, some of the people prepared to leave, while others got ready to join the afternoon church procession.

Suddenly, a deafening roar ripped through the air and Francis’ house shook violently. “Windowpanes shattered in an instant, spraying glass across the rooms,” recalls Francis. “Something slammed onto the terrace above. A window frame tore loose and crashed down. For a moment, no one understood what was happening.”