Over 100 killed, 300 injured as fireworks at Kerala temple leads to explosion

April 10, 2016

Kollam, Apr 10: In a huge tragedy, 106 people were killed and over 280 injured in a major fire that broke out in Puttingal Devi Temple complex near here in Kerala today during a display of fireworks for which there was no permission from the authorities.

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Thousands of people had gathered at the temple precincts to witness the display of fireworks which was underway since midnight when the blaze erupted at around 3.30 AM, police said.

The mishap occurred as sparks of the fireworks fell on the store room 'Kambapura' and the fire crackers kept there exploded with a deafening noise, police said.

The sound of the explosion could be heard over a radius of one kilometer and the whole area plunged into darkness as the power supply went off and people ran helter skelter, eyewitnesses said.

In the huge blaze, 102 people perished and 280 were injured, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters. A massive effort was launched to rescue the people from the inferno and shift the injured people to hospitals, with the Navy and the Air Force pressing into service six helicopters and one Dornier aircraft.

The Chief Minister said the District Collector of Kollam had not given permission to conduct the fireworks. The District Collector A Shainamol said "no permission for any kind of fireworks" was given.

She said the temple authorities had asked for permission to conduct competitive fireworks which was denied. For normal fireworks, no permission was sought and hence there was no question of granting it, the DC said.

Police sources said a case has been registered against temple authorities and explosive licencees under section 307 (Attempt to murder), and 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide) of IPC and under section 4 of Explosives Substances Act.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who termed the incident as "heart-rending" and "shocking", announced Rs two lakh each as compensation for the next of the kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.

He rushed to Kerala to take stock of the situation, carrying along with him a team of burn specialist doctors.

"It has been confirmed that 102 people were killed and 280 injured and admitted to various hospitals. Now our focus is to provide the best treatment to the injured," said Chandy, who visited the accident site and the injured at various hospitals in this city.

"The condition of some of the injured is stated to be very serious and the injured have been admitted to various hospitals in and around Kollam and in Thiruvananthapuram," the Kerala Chief Minister said. He said the injured would be shifted to whichever hospitals their relatives wanted to be taken to ensure the best treatment. "The government will take care of all the medical expenses," he said.

Chandy said the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had called him to express their grief over the tragedy and the central government has promised all help.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi is also travelling to the accident site. Over 250 injured have been brought to the Trivandrum Medical college hopsital, Kollam district hospital and various private hospitals in kollam.

Trivandrum medical college hospital sources said 112 injured persons have been brought to the hospital so far and 13 of them had been broght dead. "Fire at temple in Kollam is heart-rending & shocking beyond words. My thoughts are with families of the deceased & prayers with the injured," the Prime Minister said in a tweet earlier.

"Spoke to CM Oommen Chandy about the fire at a temple in Kollam. Arranging for immediate shifting of those critically injured via helicopter," he tweeted in the morning.

The PMO said Modi was constantly monitoring the situation and was in touch with officials. He had directed that no protocol formalities be observed on his arrival in Kerala as focus should remain on relief and rescue operations in Kollam. Modi said he had also asked Health Minister J P Nadda to immediately reach the site of the fire tragedy in Kollam.

BJP National President Amit Shah cancelled all his public functions in Kerala today and has rushed to the Trivandrum Medical college to visit the injured patients. Chandy, who visited the mishap site, said 56 of the dead have been identified and the process to identify others is in progress.

He said post-mortem will be carried out expeditiously so that the bodies are handed over to their kin at the earliest. Asked whether any action will be taken against temple authorities for conducting the display of fireworks since the authorities had denied permission for it, the Chief Minister said a decision regarding this will be taken at a Cabinet meeting to be held shortly.

He said the personnel of police, fire and disaster departments had done a commendable job in the wake of the tragedy. With regard to medical aid, Chandy said the Central government has offered any kind of assistance "but at the moment we are self-sufficient".

He said sufficient medical facilities are available in the state and "we are going to provide the best medical care".

Also Read:

Temple tragedy: Tremors felt a km away; charred bodies all over

Temple tragedy: Karnataka sends doctors, plastic surgeons to Kerala

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Comments

Ahmed
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Really very sad. Life is very precious. FIRE itself is a danger. So need precaution to such incidents in future. Everyone who lost their beloved ones would feel to ban the fireworks in any event of celebration.

O people, Worship the creator, not the creation.

Ali
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Rss is behind this incident to divide muslims and hindu votes to rule kerala.

MOHAMMAD
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

May Allah give sabr to the deceased family who lost their dear ones. if it was happened nearby masjid, definitely the story would have been different as per the media..

Message of
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Its sad news.. we condole, but we need to open up and convey the TRUTH.

When somebody at the moment of tragedy calling Oh God!
it means YOU are calling the God who created all that exists...
It is not manmade so called gods
it is not a statue - stone
it is not an idol - stone
it is not a picture - life less
it is not an animal - Human is more intellect than animal.. animal doesnt worship human
it is not a created things.. Man made creation

Recognize the TRUE GOD and Worship him alone not created things.
God doesnt want people to waste their money by FIRING...
Why dont YOU think ... its man made ritual to burn fire cracker & waste money & KEEP US away from TRUE GOD..
if people heedlessly continue without learning about GOD who created U & ME and all that exists , I fear WE will face such tragedy in future, Just like elephant festival which kills human in every festival .... May God give us all, about his UNDERSTANDING to those who LOOK for his message.

ISLAM says ALLAH is the creator of all that exists.. there is no different religion. but only one. People deviated from one religion and started worshiping created things.... When ALLAH says in QURAN... He is the CREATOR ... Y dont my Brothers and sisters look what he says....

People accept what is said in the media... without VERIFYING.
I request YOU to Research, Investigation, learn and study the QURAN BEFORE ACCEPTING what is said in the QURAN... Dont follow blindly like other religious scriptures...

WORSHIP THE CREATOR NOT HIS CREATION

Abdul
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Innalillahi vainna ilaihi raajivoo...

Rikaz
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Its a bad news....this shows carelessness of temple managing committee not abiding the international safety standard....tragic death could have been avoided....if they had spent a little money on safety...committee's main aim is to make money from devotees and ...not spending any money on their safety...their members should be arrested and put behind bar forever....

Maharaja
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

We Indians always compromise on safety and quality. This is one example. Also in roads most of us never follow rules eg.. not wearing helmet/seat belts, jumping the signals, over speed, public crossing the roads wherever they want etc. No point of blaming government .Unless each individual realise the importance of safety and act accordingly these kind of incidents will continue. Feel sorry for the victims.

abdul
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Very Sad news.
This is the entry of BJP........!

Arun Raj
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

It is the most sad day,for such a beautiful Paravur and its people have to undergo a tragedy that is so painful.

sunil Raj
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Very sad disastrous,god bless victims

mohammed isaq
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

A comprehensive probe will be conducted into the incident. _>> Reactive approach. Proactive - Govt. would have ensured, all fire regulations are followed. Why elect such poor leaders, who are unfit to serve voters. Now a probe, that will go on for decades ... Change leaders, find nothing but the best talent. Every tomDick&Harry wants to be a leader, be it a cop, a babu, now a chia wala from UP, film actors, cricket players .. are these the best talent that voters / parties can find, out of over a billion people? and then so many criminally charged are elected ....That is a shame,

adithya
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

india just survive between one tragedy to other...
so many faults that this country and even god can't understand how this country is still surviving

meghana
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Our general safety standards for fireworks is woefully low. Anyone who can light a fire becomes a fireworks expert. These fireworks look colorful, but has dangerous and hazardous chemicals which if not in properly accredited fireworks experts can go wrong. Hope we learn and reduce such fireworks which not only pollutes the air but causes such destruction. The fireworks should be held only in stadiums with adequate supervision and fire engines placed for quick reaction in case of accidents.

subramaniam
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

It is the biggest problem of Indian constitutional system and its governments giving equal rights and allowing everyone to the temple.

krishna
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

if government of India needs abundant money than its capacity from other religious fundamentalists nation for its own growth, how would it save Hindu temples at Indian and around world?. This is another example for Modi government to introspect.

Pramod
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Very sorry to hear the human tragedy ! How pity we NEVER realise that overcrowding fire work displays are dangerous ! time we understood God is right in us and next to us and so why search him in crowded n potentially risky places ? SAD event !

One of indian
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Very Sad to here. YA ALHAH Save brothers,sisters,children's and all humankind from this kind of accidents.

SK
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

RIP Very sad , man made tragedy BUT fate is sealed.... crackers and colored water will take more lives...... Even the educated do not understand the dangers involved in crackers and colored water.....

Vikas Kotian
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Very sorry to hear the human tragedy ! How pity we NEVER realise that overcrowding fire work displays are dangerous ! time we understood God is right in us and next to us and so why search him in crowded n potentially risky places ? SAD event !

Divakar Bhatt
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Another tragedy - utter carelessness - nobody responsible.. A few days of outrage, then back to \normal\".. This is India sir -- nothing will change."

Vaman Rao
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Very unfortunate happening. Oh! God!

Vimala
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Very unfortunate and an avoidable accident.

Mohan Roy
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

very sad, RIP to those who killed in mishap.

Ravishankar
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

In several Malayalam films mishaps owing to fire works are being shown from time to time. People are not learning unfortunately.

Zaheer Hussain
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Firecrackers became part of Diwali only in the 40s and 50s. Firecrackers were not a part of Diwali before The Indian Explosives Act, 1940 licensed firecracker manufacturing. Gunpowder itself is a chinese invention.
There is nothing \hindu tradition\" about firecrackers or their bursting during diwali. You are just an ignoramus, like all religious fanatics. Your comment reminds me of the study of the five monkeys and the ladder, where monkeys were conditioned to follow a tradition without knowing why!"

Mehar Ali
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

cackers doesn't have a religion..blanket ban should be imposed.... life is too large a price for crackers ..go play some video games or rather watch luv kush cartoon to celebrate ram :p

Zuhair Khan
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Ban the crackers once and for all..other than killing and pollution, do they do anything good?

Kochna
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

WHERE EVER GODHRA MODI AND HIS PUPPY AMIT SHAH GOES ITS DEATH DESTRUCTION AND KILLING, MODI IS BAD OMEN,,

Nationalist
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

i share the grief of the people affected by tragedy at the same time a bit of a shock that the prime minister wants to visit kerala soon!!!! well he has time for kerala and earlier to visit kolkata where the bridge has collapsed and taking mileage out of it !!!! but at the same time he has no time to visit the people of ten states who are suffering with acute water shortage nor a word has been expressed from his side!!!!!!!! do we call it a selfish approach?

Saleem Jha
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

What a horrible situation. People went there to enjoy it, but unfortunately met with a tragic accident.

Fayaz
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

whats the govt got to do here ? norms are already there. its upto people to follow them ... temple is private, atleast thats how most temples are run. put the priests in jail

Shravan
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Safety Standards are so low and compromised here as life is very cheap, Will Govt wake up and enforce some strict safety norms. All we see is Govt staff are prompt in collecting their hafthas and not bothered to check compliance etc.

Satyameva jayate
 - 
Sunday, 10 Apr 2016

Poor victims...really heartbreaking situation.
Don't know why these deadly games are part of worship. Created accidents.
Anyhow PM Modi is visiting the place to market at least one seat for BJP. Good luck sir....

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News Network
March 21,2020

Bengaluru , Mar 21: Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar exuded confidence that the party will return to power in the state and praised former chief minister Siddaramaiah's term.

"I am confident that we will come back to power. Everyone in the past has worked their best to build the party. Siddaramaiah being a full-term chief minister gave the best programs to Karnataka, his government's programs were the best of all time," Shivakumar said at a press conference on Friday.

He further assured his full support to anyone who wanted to work for the betterment of the party.

"Though I have become the state president of the party but I am still the worker of Congress and each of us should work for the party as ground workers. I am ready to give any kind of support to those who want to work for the party. We need to take all caste, communities along for the betterment of the party," he said.

Shivakumar was appointed the state Congress President on March 11, while Eshwar Khandre, Satish Jarkiholi, and Saleem Ahmed have been appointed working presidents of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.

Comments

satya vishwasi
 - 
Monday, 23 Mar 2020

First Tell your all MP & MLA s that if they wish to join BJP better join from now later  after getting elected from the congress they betray the voter, such hiddnen sangis from congress to be kicked out.

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 8,2020

Mangaluru, May 8: After continuous pressure on Union government from Karnataka NRI Forum- UAE, the first special flight carrying 180 Kannadigas who stranded at UAE due to Covid-19 pandemic will fly from Dubai to Mangaluru on May 14.

The special flight will take off from Dubai at 4.10 p.m. UAE time to reach Mangaluru at 9.10 pm IST on May 14. Earlier it was reported that the flight will operate on May 12. However, sources of Mangaluru International Airport and Air India today confirmed that first flight will be on May 14.

The state government has directed Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts authority to quarantine all passengers once they reach.  

All Kannadigas will be given permission to travel back home only after they test negative in Covid test at Dubai airport.

In fact, Karnataka was missing in the list of states to receive special flights when Ministry of External Affairs arranged them to bring stranded Indians at UAE. Special flights were arranged only to Kerala and Tamil Nadu people stranded at UAE in the first stage.

Thanks to Karnataka NRI Forum of UAE which opened helpline (https://uaekannadahelpline.club) to seek assistance to Kannadigas, nearly 2000 Kannadigas have registered for assistance in which 127 pregnant women, 27 senior citizens, 700 people who have lost jobs aftermath of coronavirus sought assistance from NRI forum.

After providing food and shelter to Kannadigas who lost jobs at UAE since March 2020, NRI forum put pressure on both state and Centre to arrange special flights to send them to home. 

The NRI Forum has approached Indian Consulate at UAE and chief minister BS Yediyurappa to evacuate Kannadigas, but got no response. Following this, Karnataka NRI Forum President Praveen Shetty approached Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda for help. Gowda immediately responded the call and he spoke to MEE to arrange special flight for Kannadigas as well.

Indian government has promised to arrange special flight to Mangaluru or Bengaluru by next week to bring Kannadigas.

Comparing to other Indian States, Karnataka has the highest number of its people working in UAE. Around 1.25 lakhs Kannadigas are working in UAE in which majority are working classes. Due to Covid-19 pandemic thousands of workers have lost jobs, Mr. Shetty explained.

"Indian government had arranged special flights from US, UK, Singapur and other countries to bring back Indians, but excluded UAE in the list. Actually, lakhs of Indians are working in UAE as labourers and in odd jobs, the government should have given first priority to bring labourers rather rich one", he opined.

"BJP has 27 MPs from Karnataka. We continuously requested all BJP MPs and state government but none of them came to our help. Thanks to Mr Gowda for his timely intervention to bring stranded Kannadigas", Mr Shetty said. 

Comments

Prarthana Prab…
 - 
Friday, 8 May 2020

Dear Sir/ Madam,  we are struck in the US for over 2 months due to Tavel restrictions imposed by India. I have incurred huge expenses for our stay here and would like to go back to our country as soon as possible. I have a small children and aged parents back home to take care. They are finding difficult cope with the situation as I am the sole bread earner in the family. Appreciate if you can help me at the earliest.

 

Priyanka Prabh…
 - 
Friday, 8 May 2020

Dear Sir/ Madam,  we are struck in the US for over 2 months due to Tavel restrictions imposed by India. I have incurred huge expenses for our stay here and would like to go back to our country as soon as possible. I have a small child and aged mother back home to take care. They are finding difficult cope with the situation as I am the sole bread earner in the family. Appreciate if you can help me at the earliest.

 

 

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News Network
March 25,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 25: The COVID-19 count in Karnataka went up by 10 on Wednesday, reaching 51. The 10 new positives included two girls aged seven and nine who contracted the infection from their father.

The 34-year-old man had returned from Amsterdam on March 19 and tested positive as the 17th confirmed case in Karnataka.

Though his family were kept in isolation and under quarantine in their house, the children developed a cold. They were confirmed for COVID-19 infection while their mother is still negative.

The government remained tightlipped over whether or not a 70-year-old woman from Gouribidanuru who was put under house quarantine and died on Wednesday morning, tested positive for COVID-19. Government officials would neither confirm nor deny anything on the results of tests on the woman.

This evening’s bulletin issued by the Karnataka health department continued to indicate the strong correlation of coronavirus infection and foreign travel.

Among the positive cases identified today were

A 63-year-old Bengaluru man and his 59-year-old wife, with a history of travel to Brazil and Argentina.
Two 26-year-old men with a history of travel to Spain and arrived back in Bengaluru via Dubai.
Two others, a 63-year-old woman and her 69-year-old husband, had a history of travel to Athens and London.
A 34-year-old man, a resident of Udupi, who returned from Dubai
A 37-year old woman, a resident of Chitradurga, with a history of travel to Guyana and arrived back in Bengaluru via Delhi
Speaking to the media, medical education minister K Sudhakar said health officials were apprehensive the positives may go up tonight.

Of the corona positive cases detected in Karnataka so far, three have been discharged after quarantine, and 47 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals in a stable condition. There has been one fatality.

As per a recommendation by the high-level health committee, the government has decided to convert the Bowring Hospital into a coronavirus treatment hospital facility along with the Rajiv Gandhi Hospital for Chest Diseases and Victoria Hospital. 

“The number of positive cases are growing at an alarming rate and the government needs more treatment facilities. The government is for burning of COVID-19 death cases. However, due to some religious practices, it has been decided they would be buried in 8 ft deep pits,'' Dr Sudhakar said.

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