154 injured, 8 seriously, in fireworks accident at Kerala temple festival

Thiruvananthapuram: Around 155 persons sustained injuries after crackers stored at Anhoottambalam Veerarkavu temple in Neeleswaram, Kasargod exploded during the intervening hours of Monday and Tuesday.

According to local sources, crackers stored at the temple as part of the Kaliyattu festival burst. The temple premises was packed with people watching “Theyyam” performance. Fire spark from crackers burst near the storage room was suspected to have triggered the explosion. Since crackers of comparatively low intensity were at the temple, the intensity of the explosion was also low. Those who were near the cracker store room suffered serious burn injuries.

Twenty seven persons including three children undergoing treatment at AJ Hospital in Mangaluru. The condition of eight injured persons was reported to be serious. A video footage of the mishap has come out.

District collector Inbasekhar K told the media that crackers were stored without permission and safety norms were not followed. Adequate distance was not maintained between the crackers storage room and the place where the crackers were burst.

The temple governing body president and secretary and the contractor of the fireworks were kept in custody. They are likely to be arrested. The Neeleswaram police registered a case by invoking sections of the Explosive Substances Act and provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Incidentally, the mishap occurred at a time when the Kerala government has been pressing the centre to relax the fresh regulations being brought in for fireworks.