source : Google
Kerala Fireworks
A devastating fireworks accident left over 150 people injured, including 10 in critical condition, during a temple festival in Kasaragod district, Kerala. The tragedy took place late on Monday night at the Anjootambalam Veerarkavu Temple in the north Malabar region. Eyewitnesses report that a firework misfired and fell into a nearby shed filled with additional firecrackers, triggering a massive explosion and engulfing the temple grounds in flames and smoke.
Kerala Fireworks -Sequence of Events and Eyewitness Accounts
The incident occurred around midnight during a fireworks display, a common tradition at Indian temple festivals. A witness named Priyesh, attending the event with family, described seeing a “ball of fire” after a loud blast, causing immediate panic among the crowd. The large gathering and limited space near the storage shed intensified the chaos as people attempted to escape. Another attendee, Sreerag, mentioned that Chinese-manufactured crackers were stored dangerously close to where the display took place, speculating that a stray spark could have set off the explosion.
Lack of Precaution and Regulatory Oversight
Authorities, including the Kasaragod District Collector, stated that firework storage should be at least 100 meters from public gatherings, but in this case, the shed was only a few feet away. The temple committee president and secretary have been detained, with local officials noting that vigilance was lacking. The stored crackers, reportedly valued at ₹28,000, were housed in a temporary tin shed, which intensified the impact of the explosion.
Emergency Response and Medical Aid
The injured were transported to various hospitals across Kasaragod, Kannur, and Mangaluru, with critical patients receiving specialized care. Hospitals such as Aishal, Arimala, and Sanjeevani, alongside Government Medical College in Kannur, have admitted many victims, highlighting the regional healthcare system’s strain in handling mass-casualty incidents.
Firecracker Tragedies in India: A Recurring Concern
This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers associated with firecracker use in religious and cultural festivities across India. Fatal accidents have become an almost yearly occurrence; in 2018, a fire at a cracker factory in New Delhi claimed 17 lives, and a year prior, an explosion in Madhya Pradesh killed 23 workers. These incidents underline the urgent need for stricter enforcement of safety regulations around fireworks, especially during public events.
This heartbreaking event has led to calls for revisiting safety standards, regulatory oversight, and the storage practices of fireworks to prevent future tragedies. As India continues to celebrate festivals with firework displays, ensuring safety for all attendees remains paramount.
