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Fireworks explosion at Kerala’s Kasaragod temple leaves over 150 injured
Kasaragod Firecracker Accident: District collector K Inbasekar told reporters that the temple authorities had not gotten any permission to light fireworks and the police have taken the office bearers into custody.
A screengrab of the accident at the temple near Neeleswaram.Kerala Temple Festival Firecracker Explosion: At least 154 people were injured, nine of them grievously, when fireworks exploded during a festival at Anjootambalam Veerakavu temple near Neeleswaram in Kasaragod district on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.
According to the police, the accident happened during the annual ritual kaliyattam, also known as theyyam, that was attended by thousands. The explosion took place when sparks fell inside the shed where the firecrackers were stored, also knows as magazine, which was less than 100 meters away from the fire-line (the place where the fireworks are displayed). The police informed that when the fireworks were going on, sparks fell on the magazine, causing a series of explosions.
Panic spread among those attending, with many suffering burn injuries.
District collector K Inbasekar told reporters that the temple authorities had not gotten any permission to light fireworks and the police have taken the office bearers into custody. Those who were seriously injured have been admitted to the government medical college in Kannur, while others are being treated at various hospitals in Kasaragod. A few others have also been rushed to hospitals in Mangaluru.
A case has also been registered against the temple committee’s office bearers.
VIDEO | Kerala: Over 150 people were injured, including eight seriously, in a fireworks accident during a temple festival near Neeleswaram, #Kasargod, late on Monday. The injured have been taken to various hospitals in Kasargod, Kannur, and Mangaluru.#KeralaNews #Kerala… pic.twitter.com/jGcrSxi31i
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 29, 2024
Theyyam artiste Suresh Babu, one of the eye witnesses of the incident, said “I have been staging theyyam at the temple for the last 40 years but this is a first. Our performance was going on when the magazine turned into a fireball. Several persons got injured in the stampede-like situation after the incident. When a series of palm leaf crackers were bursted, sparks fell accidently on the nearby magazine, leading to the massive explosion.”
Quoting temple authorities, police said the shed had mainly stock of low intensity Chinese crackers, which reduced the impact the explosion.
#Watch: Scenes from the Anjootambalam Veerakavu temple near Neeleswaram in Kasaragod district in the morning after fireworks explosion left over 150 injured.
Read @shajuexpress‘s report here: https://t.co/upaK7fLrSE pic.twitter.com/dolQWO2E5f
Theyyam is a popular annual ritual in the temples of North Kerala, especially Kannur and Kasaragod districts. Theyyam at Anjootambalam veerakavu temple marks the beginning of the ritualist performance in all temples in the region. Bursting firecrackers is a traditional practice at the temple at the time of theyyam.
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