85 Families Moved Out Of Kerala Village After Hearing 'Explosion-Like' Sounds

The people were shifted to a school building late Tuesday night as the first sound was reportedly heard at 9.15 pm, followed by two more – at 10.15 pm and 10.45 pm – along with mild tremors.

Over 280 people from 85 families were moved to safety after they reported hearing "explosion-like" sounds accompanied by tremors in the Anakkallu area in Kerala's Malappuram district, PTI reported quoting police officials.

The people were shifted to a school building late Tuesday night as the first sound was reportedly heard at 9.15 pm, followed by two more – at 10.15 pm and 10.45 pm – along with mild tremors. The sounds were reportedly heard within a two-km radius, causing panic among residents, police said.

Police, revenue officials, and local representatives reached the spot and arranged safe shelter for the families, a police officer told PTI. The villagers began returning to their houses on Wednesday morning, he said.

Explosion At Kerala Temple Festival Injures 150

On late Monday, an explosion during a temple festival in Kasaragod left over 150 people injured. The injured were taken to various hospitals in Kasargod, Kannur and Mangaluru.

It is suspected that the accident occurred when a fireworks storage facility near Veerarkavu Temple caught fire. The accident occurred around midnight.

The collector and the district police chief were among the top district administration officials who rushed to the spot. 

"The cause of the accident is being ascertained. Samples have been collected from the site," the district collector said. According to a preliminary probe, the fireworks storage facility and the place where the crackers were being burst were close to each other. The officer said safety precautions were not taken and the requirement of maintaining a minimum distance of 100 meters between the two was not followed.

"No permission was taken either for the storage of fireworks," he added.

The additional superintendent of police will lead that investigation team and he will conduct a detailed investigation. "On submitting the report, if there is any lapse, action will be taken. Right now we have three people in custody. We are questioning them, trying to find out what has happened and subsequently arrest will be shown," D Shilpa, the SP Kasargod district, said.