NEW DELHI: Over 150 people were injured in a fireworks accident late Monday night during a festival at the Anjoottambalam Veerar Kavu temple in Nileshwar, Kasaragod district.
According to District collector Inbasekar K, 154 persons were injured while 97 were admitted to various hospitals in Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode and Mangaluru. Among the injured, the condition of eight persons is critical.
As per the preliminary information, the accident happened after the store where the firecrackers are kept caught fire resulting in a massive explosion in the early hours.
Thousands of devotees had gathered at the temple during the incident. District collector Inbasekar K and district police chief D Silpa reached the spot.
District police chief D Silpa said that the temple authorities had not taken license for conducting fireworks.
"Also, the stipulation that the storeroom should be atleast 100 metres away from the area where fireworks are conducted was flouted. Also people where sitting close to the building where the firecrackers were kept and the crackers were being burst nearby only and that has caused the mishap," Silpa said.
She said that president and secretary of the temple have been taken into custody.
According to the district administration, 18 persons were admitted in AJ hospital, Mangaluru and 18 at the MIMS hospital, Kannur. Another 17 individual are at Aishal hospital, Kanhangad and 16 people at Kanhangad district hospital. Other 10 people were admitted at Sanjeevani hospital, Kanhangad and five persons at the Government medical college, Kannur.
Five people have been admitted to Mazoor hospital, Kanhangad while three at Arimala hospital, Kanhangad. Two persons each at MIMS hospital Kozhikode and at KH Hospital. Cheruvathur. One person was admitted at Deepa hospital Kanhangad.
In the backdrop of the mishap, the festival has been suspended and an investigation is underway
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