Eyewitnesses state that temple committee officials failed to respond promptly, with the "Theyyam" performance and "Chenda melam" continuing despite the explosion.
Published Oct 29, 2024 | 8:16 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 29, 2024 | 11:07 AM
Explosion at fireworks unit in Kasargod. (Supplied)
On the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, 28 and 29 October, at about 12 am, an explosion took place at a fireworks storage unit in Kasaragod, injuring 154 people, with eight of them being in critical condition.
The tragic incident took place during the Nileshwaram Anjoottambalam Veerarkavu Kaliyattam festival.
District Collector Imbashekhar reported that 97 of the injured are currently undergoing treatment at various hospitals, while authorities have initiated an investigation.
The injured are receiving care across multiple medical facilities, with 16 individuals at Kanhangad Hospital, 10 at Sanjeevani Hospital, 17 at Aishal Hospital, 5 at Pariyaram Medical College, 18 at Kannur MIMS, 2 at Kozhikode MIMS, 3 at Arimala Hospital, 2 at KAH Cheruvathur, 5 at Mansoor Hospital, one at Deepa Hospital, and 18 at MJ Medical College in Mangalore.
Five of the 33 people admitted to the district hospital are in serious condition. Aishal Hospital is treating 19 injured, including three in critical condition, while Arimala Hospital has admitted 12, with two critically injured. The explosion led to a chaotic scene as people scattered, resulting in additional injuries due to the crowd surge.
Speaking with South First, Deputy Tahsildar Thulasiraj TV said, “154 people were taken to the hospital, with those suffering minor burns returning home after consulting in the casualty OP. Now, 97 individuals are admitted across various hospitals. The situation is stable, and hospitals in Kasaragod and nearby districts are on alert.”
Meanwhile, Shajeer Nileswaram, the ward councillor said that the number of injured may rise soon, “Many people have sought treatment on their own. Since the temple is located in town, some injured individuals are directly going for treatment. Currently, four people are critically ill in the ICU at MIMS Hospital, and a 10-year-old has been admitted to Baby Memorial Hospital.”
Following the incident, police registered a case and detained the president and secretary of the Anjoottambalam Veerarkavu Committee.
Further investigations are underway to determine the cause of the explosion and ensure accountability.
Over 1,500 devotees were present at the temple when this incident occurred, sparking allegations of negligence.
Eyewitnesses state that temple committee officials failed to respond promptly, with the “Theyyam” performance and “Chenda melam” continuing despite the explosion.
It was only after an external mic announcement that temple authorities reportedly began to take the situation seriously. Local residents expressed shock at the sudden turn of events, describing it as both unforeseen and alarming.
As a result, all scheduled Theyyam ceremonies for Tuesday have been cancelled.
The Theyyam season in Malabar began with the Theyyam ritual at this temple, attracting people from various districts. According to locals, the explosion’s impact extended over two kilometres.
Officials reported that no prior permission was taken from the local authorities, but the temple representatives stated that they used only smaller firecrackers, so they hadn’t sought permission.
Many, including Muslim religious leaders, reached the temple to assist with the rescue efforts.
In a recent notification, the Union government has introduced stringent safety regulations mandating a minimum 200-meter distance between fireworks storage areas (magazines) and detonation sites (fire lines).
Previously, under the Explosives Act, this separation was only 45 meters for storage up to 3,500 kilograms. These updates follow recommendations from the commission investigating the 2016 Kollam Puttingal fireworks tragedy.
Key provisions in the notification include:
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)
