150 Injured, 8 Critical In Fireworks Accident At Kerala Temple Festival

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 rushed to the spot.

Over 150 people were injured in a fireworks accident during a temple festival in Kerala's Kasaragod late Monday, police said. The injured have been taken to various hospitals in Kasargod, Kannur and Mangaluru, PTI reported.

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.

Police said it is suspected that the accident occurred when the fireworks storage facility near Veerarkavu Temple caught fire. A case has been registered, they added.

D Shilpa, SP Kasargod district, said, "While bursting crackers, one cracker fell on the room where the crackers were stored. So the explosion has happened there. Since people were sitting very close to that room, many people got injured. This is what we have understood so far. But more investigation needs to be done." She added that the temple authorities made many changes without informing the police.

"First of all, they have not taken the license and they have not told us about the use of crackers. They have not told anyone that crackers have been kept in that room and they have allowed people to sit there. So, there has been a lapse on the part of the temple authorities, we are conducting a comprehensive investigation," the officer said.

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," she said.

#WATCH | Kerala: On Kasargod fireworks incident, D Shilpa, SP Kasargod district says, "While bursting crackers, one cracker fell on the room where the crackers were stored. So the explosion has happened there. Since people were sitting very close to that room, many people got… pic.twitter.com/FQqtqJsoH7

— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2024