Kerala Temple Fireworks Mishap Leaves 150 Injured, 10 Critical
A fireworks accident at a temple in Kerala’s Kasaragod district left over 150 people injured late last night, with 10 of them in critical condition.
The incident occurred at Anjootambalam Veererkavu temple during festivities in the north Malabar region. Eyewitnesses described the scene as a “ball of fire” erupting when a firecracker allegedly fell into a nearby shed storing more explosives.
Eyewitnesses Describe Chaos After Blast
Around midnight, a fireworks display was in progress when the explosion occurred. Visuals showed panicked festival attendees fleeing as massive flames and smoke engulfed the temple premises. Priyesh, an eyewitness, said, “It started with a loud blast, and then we saw a ball of fire. Many people were trapped near the shed, and we rushed them to nearby hospitals.”
Sreerag, a festival organizer, mentioned that the crowd was unusually large that night. He added that Chinese crackers stored in a nearby shed may have been ignited by a spark from a flower cracker.
Lack of Precaution Blamed
Local residents and officials criticized the safety measures at the event. Kasaragod Collector Inbasekar K said that crackers should be stored at least 100 meters away from the bursting area, but in this case, the distance was only a few feet. Authorities have taken the temple committee’s president and secretary into custody as the investigation continues.
