Kerala Fireworks Tragedy
Thiruvananthapuram: Over 150 people sustained injuries, with 10 in serious condition, following a fireworks mishap at a temple in Kerala’s Kasaragod district last night. The incident unfolded at the Anjootambalam Veererkavu temple, where celebrations for the start of the festive season in the north Malabar region were underway. Disturbing visuals captured massive flames and clouds of smoke as panicked attendees ran for safety.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fireworks display, ongoing around midnight, took a dangerous turn when one of the crackers fell into a nearby storage shed packed with additional fireworks. The resulting explosion led to widespread panic among the crowd.150 Injured in Kerala Fireworks Tragedy, Eyewitnesses Recall “Ball of Fire”
Priyesh, who attended the festival with his cousins, recalled the chaotic scene: “It started with a loud blast, and suddenly, we saw a ball of fire. People couldn’t move around freely due to the crowd. We immediately started rushing the injured to nearby hospitals,” he told Manorama Online.
Sreerag, a temple volunteer who traveled from Bengaluru, had been managing the crowd when he heard the blast. “We usually expect a big crowd on the festival’s second day, but last night the turnout was exceptionally high,” he explained.
According to local sources, Chinese crackers stored in the shed may have been ignited by a stray spark from a flower cracker, causing the fire. Residents expressed concerns about safety protocols, noting that the storage shed was close to the main fireworks display area. “Although this is a small event, there should have been more precautions regarding the distance between the shed and the display site,” said E Shajeer, a local ward representative.
Kasaragod district collector Inbasekar K highlighted that regulations require a 100-meter distance between stored crackers and active displays; however, in this case, the shed was only a few feet away.
Refrence by NDtv
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