Over 150 injured, 8 critical, in fireworks accident at Kerala temple festival

Over 150 people were injured, with eight in critical condition, in a fireworks’ accident during a temple festival in Kerala’s Kasaragod on Monday, the police said.

The incident took place at around 12.30 am during the annual Kaliyattam festival at the Anjootambalam Veerarkavu Temple. Following the incident, the police filed a case against eight people, who are part of the temple committee, under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the explosive substances act.

The injured were shifted to several hospitals in Kasaragod, Kannur, and Mangaluru, where they are receiving treatment. The police suspect that the accident occurred after a fireworks’ storage factory near the temple caught fire. Soon after the news of the accident came out, several senior district administration officials, including the collector and the district police chief, arrived at the spot.

Authorities are conducting an investigation to find out what led to the fire, as local communities gathered to support the injured and their families. Earlier this week, the Kerala Police registered an FIR in connection with the alleged disruption of the iconic Thrissur Pooram festival in April this year despite Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan blaming the Opposition for running “exaggerated campaigns” against the event.

The FIR, filed without naming the accused, lists charges that include criminal conspiracy, outraging religious sentiments, and incitement to riot. The FIR outlines an alleged plot aimed at provoking unrest by inflaming religious beliefs.

In a statement, Vijayan said that there were attempts to disrupt the Thrissur Pooram festival, renowned for its elephant and drum parades, though the event ultimately proceeded without interruption. He accused the Sangh Parivar of seeking to interfere with the festival and labeled the Congress-led UDF as the “B-team of the Sangh Parivar.”