Kerala Temple Fireworks Mishap: A fireworks accident at the Anjootambalam Veererkavu temple in Kerala’s Kasaragod district has left more than 150 people injured, with 10 in a serious condition. The incident, which occurred late Monday night, saw a massive fire and a cloud of smoke engulf the temple premises as panicked devotees scrambled for safety.
The accident took place during celebrations marking the start of the festive season in Kerala’s north Malabar region. Eyewitnesses report that a firecracker, possibly misdirected, fell into a nearby storage shed containing additional firecrackers, igniting a large-scale blaze.
Over 150 injured in tragic #fireworks explosion in Kasaragod temple festival, 8 of them critical.
An #explosion took place, as a collection of #firecrackers caught fire, and chaos erupted at the Veerarkavu temple at #Nileshwar in #Kasaragod district of #Kerala. In the… pic.twitter.com/HTLSYyvQrx
— Surya Reddy (@jsuryareddy) October 29, 2024
“It started with a loud blast, and then we saw a ball of fire,” Priyesh, who was at the temple with his cousins, told Manorama Online. “There was so much crowd. Many people were standing by the side of the shed, and since there were too many people, they couldn’t move around freely.” Priyesh recounted helping rush the injured to nearby hospitals.
Sreerag, who had travelled from Bengaluru to manage the crowd during the festival, described the intense and unexpected turnout. “On Monday night, the crowd was unusually high,” he said, adding that Chinese crackers stored in the shed were likely ignited by a spark from a nearby flower cracker.
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Safety Violations Under Scrutiny
Reports indicate that the storage shed was located just a few feet from where the firecrackers were being ignited. According to Kasaragod Collector Inbasekar K, crackers should be stored at a minimum distance of 100 meters from where they are set off, a safety measure not observed in this case.
Local ward member E Shajeer commented on the need for increased vigilance at the event, which he described as a typically smaller-scale celebration. “There should have been more precaution regarding the distance between the shed and the place where crackers were burst,” he said.
The temple authorities confirmed that around ₹28,000 worth of low-intensity firecrackers were stored in a temporary tin shed, which became the focal point of the explosion.
Investigation and Accountability
The president and secretary of the Kasaragod temple committee have been taken into police custody as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Panchayat representatives and district authorities are now urging stricter enforcement of safety protocols for similar public events.
This tragic Kerala temple fireworks mishap incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential hazards associated with firework displays, especially in close proximity to large gatherings. Local residents and officials alike are calling for improved safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
