Fire At Kasaragod Temple Due To Careless Display, Claims FIR Naming Eight; Two In Cop Custody

 Kerala: An FIR was filed against 8 temple committee members under non-bailable sections for conducting fireworks without permission and violating guidelines that led a fire accident at the temple in Kerala’s Kasaragod district late last night (October 29). Two office bearers of the temple committee had been taken into police custody, according to reports.

More than 150 people were injured in the incident. The condition of at least 10 persons is stated to be serious, reports claimed.

The FIR states that the careless display led to a fire in the fireworks storage area. Shocking visuals from the spot that went viral showed crackers triggering a massive fire and a thick cloud of smoke. In the video, people—who had gathered at the temple to witness the fireworks show— are seen running to safety.

The mishap occurred at Anjootambalam Veerekavu while celebrations were underway to mark the beginning of the festive season in the north Malabar region.

Eyewitnesses, as quoted by the NDTV, said a firecrackers display was on around midnight, and one of the crackers might have fallen into the nearby shed where more crackers were stored.

The shed erupted into massive flames and smoke.

“It started with a loud blast, and then we saw a ball of fire. Soon, there was panic. 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. We immediately started rushing people to nearby hospitals,”said Priyesh, an eyewitness according to a Manorama Online report.

Members of the local Panchayat blamed a lack of vigil for the incident. “Crackers are not burst on a large scale here. It is a small event. However, there should have been more precaution regarding the distance between the shed and the place where crackers were burst,” local ward member, E Shajeer, told Manorama Online.