A fireworks accident in the Kasaragod district of Kerala left more than 150 people injured including 10 of them were seriously injured. The incident occurred late on Monday, October 28, 2024, during the festive celebrations at Anjootambalam Veerekavu in the North Malabar region.
The injured have been taken to various hospitals in Kasaragod, Kannur, and Mangaluru districts. Some visuals from the incident showed that crackers had led to a massive fire and a cloud of smoke around the people who gathered for prayers at the temple premises.
It has been suspected that the incident occurred when a fireworks storage facility, where more crackers were kept near Veerakavu Temple, caught fire after a firecracker hit.
The authorities, including top district administrative officials, the collector, and the district police chief, reached the spot immediately.
They are probing to find evidence about the cause of the fire, while the local communities come together to support the victims and their families who suffered from the incident.
What Local Media Reported?
According to the local media called Mathrubhumi, about five individuals have been admitted to the Kanhangad district hospital and are currently in critical condition. About 33 people were admitted to the district hospital, and 19 were admitted to Aishal Hospital at Kanhangad. While 12 have been admitted to Arimala Hospital.
Around 40 people have been admitted to Sanjeevani Hospital, 11 people have been taken to Nileshwar Taluk Hospital and 5 have been admitted to Aster MIMS Hospital in Kannur.
The district administration said that more people have been admitted to hospitals in Mangalore and to the Government Medical College in Pariyaram, Kannur.
It has been reported that the misfired cracker hit a building storing explosives, which resulted in igniting a larger fire, injuring bystanders including women and children who were gathered nearby to watch the Theyyam performances.
As per the district collector, those who were seriously injured had 80% burns.
“The cause of the accident is being ascertained. Samples have been collected from the site. A case was lodged,” he said.
Further, he also underlined that the safety precautions were not taken. The requirement of maintaining a minimum distance of 100 meters between the two was not followed. He highlighted that no permission was taken for the storage of firecrackers.
What Eyewitnesses Reported?
Several eyewitnesses have said that a firecracker was displayed around midnight and one cracker got struck by a nearby shed where more crackers were stored.
Priyesh, who was reportedly at the temple with his cousins told a local media, “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.”
Sreerag, who was associated with the temple came from Bengaluru to attend the festival. He said that he was managing the crowd when an explosion was heard.
He said that Chinese Crackers were stored in the shed. A spark from a flower cracker hit the shed, leading to igniting the fire from the crackers.
Kanishka Malhotra is a seasoned journalist with a deep passion for reporting and uncovering the truth. With a specialization in research and investigative Journalism, she has covered wide range of topics related to social issues, travel, lifestyle, technology, Entertainment and much more. She believes to express and share her creativity to the world through words. With relentless pursuit of knowing and uncovering the truth, Kanishka continues to leave a mark in the world of journalism.
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