150 Injured in Kerala Firecracker Tragedy; Eyewitnesses Describe “Fireball”

Over 150 people were injured, with 10 critically hurt. In a fireworks accident at a temple in Kerala’s Kasaragod district late last night. Disturbing footage captured firecrackers sparking a large blaze, filling the air with thick smoke as temple attendees rushed to escape.

The accident occurred at Anjootambalam Veerekavu during celebrations marking the start of the festive season in north Malabar. Eyewitnesses said that a firework display was underway around midnight when a firecracker may have landed in a nearby shed where more fireworks were stored. Video footage showed the crowd’s shock as the shed was engulfed in flames and smoke.

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Priyesh attended the festival at the temple with his cousins when the incident occurred. “It began with a loud explosion, followed by a fireball. Panic ensued almost immediately. The crowd was so large that many people near the shed couldn’t move freely. We quickly started transporting people to nearby hospitals,” he recounted, as reported by Manorama Online.

Sreerag, who traveled from Bengaluru to participate in the festival, was managing the crowd when he heard the blast. “We typically expect a large crowd on the second day of the festival. But on Monday night, the turnout was unusually high.”

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Negligence Alleged in Kerala Firecracker Tragedy; Temple Officials Arrested Amid Criticism Over Safety Lapses

“There were Chinese firecrackers stored in the shed. A spark from a flower cracker likely fell into the shed, igniting the stored crackers,” he explained.

Local residents told Manorama that the storehouse was situated close to where the firecrackers were being set off. Panchayat representatives have criticized the lack of oversight in this situation. “Firecrackers are not typically set off in large quantities here; it’s a small event. However, there should have been better precautions regarding the distance between the shed. And the area where the fireworks were ignited,” said local ward member E. Shajeer, according to Manorama Online.

Kasaragod collector Inbasekar K stated that firecrackers should be stored at least 100 meters away from the area where they are set off.

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Two officials from the temple committee have been arrested by the police. An FIR has been filed against eight members of the committee for holding the fireworks display without authorization and breaching regulations. The complaint alleges that the negligent handling of the display resulted in a fire in the fireworks storage area.