Kollam, Kerala: In a massive tragedy, more than 100 people were killed and over 350 injured in a major fire
that broke out in a temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
Another 200 people were injured as people became trapped by flames in the crowded Paravoor temple in Kollam city during a major festival, said state home minister Ramesh Chennitala.
The fire started when a spark from a fireworks display ignited a separate batch of fireworks that had been stored in the temple in preparation for the Hindu new year festival of Vishu this coming Thursday.
The fireworks erupted in a massive explosion, with flames engulfing the building in minutes as trapped devotees fought to escape.
When competitive spirit became the killer culprit in Kollam
The tragedy at Puttingal Devi temple which claimed over 100 lives and left many injured was the result of the competitive spirit of the temple authorities which even the law of the land could not dampen.
The dismantled trophies, meant to be given away to the winners and torn up notices lying on the ground, reveal that what the thousands thronged the temple premises witnessed was a competition and not a mere fireworks display.
The temple has been the venue for the third largest fireworks display in Kerala. It has been conducting fireworks competition for years now. However, this time the district authorities had prohibited the competition based on a complaint by some locals.
The temple authorities then conducted the competition by flouting an order issued by the additional district magistrate. Explosives were gathered on the temple premises against the order. The temple authorities had kept ready the trophies for the winners and printed the details of the contest in notices.
The fireworks show which began at 12.30 am lasted till 3.30 am. The blast took place as the authorities were about to ask the contractors to wind the show up after police advised them to do so.
Ninety per cent of the explosives had been used before the blast. The majority of the audience had also returned by that time. Otherwise the density of the mishap would have been unimaginable.
PM Narendra Modi Pledges All Help After Visiting Site
Describing the fire tragedy in Kollam as “unimaginable”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today assured Kerala government and its people all help in the hour of crisis as he visited the mishap site near Kollam and a hospital to see the injured people.
“This tragedy is very painful. The extent of the tragedy is unimaginable and such dreadful,” he told reporters before concluding his brief visit during which he also held a meeting with Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
He said the tragedy is such huge that it is difficult to express it in words as such a large number of people have been injured, with some being beheaded.
“This is an hour of crisis and the central government is ready to extend all help to Kerala government and the people of the state,” PM Modi said.