IN the worst-ever fireworks tragedy in Kerala, over 110 people were killed and nearly 350 injured, 22 of them grievously, on April 10 night.

Disaster struck the crowded premise of Puttingal Devi Temple at Paravur, south of Kollam, around 3.30 AM when an entire dump of firecrackers meant to be burst to mark the conclusion of the Meena-Bharani festival exploded, killing over 110 persons, maiming many more and causing extensive damage to nearby buildings. The impact was so huge that the glass façade of a showroom in the centre of the town two kilometres away was shattered. Rescue efforts began right away.  

Eyewitnesses said the disaster struck when a cracker meant to explode in the air fell on the ground, sending sparks flying in all directions. The sparks reached the storehouse, igniting fireworks stored there. The explosion that followed brought down a building and caused damage to several structures in the vicinity. The explosion was followed by power disruption, which left the crowd clueless about the magnitude of the tragedy for some time. While the majority of the injured were admitted to the general hospital and private hospitals in Kollam city, many were rushed to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital and other private hospitals in the capital.

The Kollam district administration had denied permission for the fireworks display based on reports from the local police that the temple authorities planned to hold a competitive fireworks display. However, the temple authorities went ahead with the display after giving much publicity to the event. People from neighbouring districts had converged on the temple to witness the show.

The state government has announced a judicial inquiry and a crime branch investigation into the disaster.

The Paravur police have registered a case against the temple authorities and the fireworks contractor, who is stated to have suffered 80 per cent burns and is undergoing treatment at the medical college hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi rushed to Kollam with a team of medical experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. After a visit to the disaster spot and hospitals, accompanied by Union Health Minister J P Nadda and discussions with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, he announced all support to the state in the rescue efforts. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi also visited the temple precincts and hospitals.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan, Opposition Leader V S Achudanadan also visited the site. Yechury and other CPI(M) leaders called upon the central government to declareSunday’s fireworks explosion at Paravur a national disaster and declare compensation accordingly. Yechury also said that a judicial probe ordered into the case should be conducted by a sitting judge. Yechury was speaking to the media at the explosion site on Monday. He said that the explosion was simply shocking and that the death toll kept mounting. At least one person from the family of those killed or seriously injured should be given a government job.

He said that no compensation had been declared for those whose properties were damaged. The government should make more earnest efforts to save those victims battling for their lives at various hospitals. Yechury also visited those undergoing treatment at the district hospital.

It is alleged that while the Collector banned the event, the police permitted the event. The government owed a reply on this issue. At an emergency meeting, the State Cabinet announced ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh to the seriously injured. Earlier, the Prime Minister announced that the Centre would pay ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of the deceased.

The shock waves of the tragedy that consumed 112 lives at the Puttingal Devi Temple still have not subsided. But fireworks erupted between the District Collector and the City Police Commissioner on Monday.

The mudslinging began with Collector A Shainamol saying that Commissioner P Prakash’s comments on the tragedy were “immature”. Prakash had stated that the temple committee misguided police officials regarding the conduct of the competitive fireworks, saying they had received oral permission from the authorities. But Shainamol said, “Clear-cut instruction was given to the Commissioner that if any violation occurred, necessary action had to be initiated. Even with the police presence, the ‘kambam’ (fireworks) was conducted.” The Collector also served a show-cause notice on the Commissioner. But the police have decided not to respond, saying their version would be revealed only during the judicial inquiry.

There were reports about presence of three cars loaded with explosives at the Sarkara Devi Temple at Kurumandal. A Crime Branch team, led by ADGP S Ananthakrishnan, has begun the probe.

Meanwhile, Kerala High Court on Tuesday banned sound-making fireworks displays -- not dangerous fireworks displays -- in all places of worship in the state, between sunset and sunrise. The High Court also sought the state government's opinion on whether the CBI should investigate the Kollam temple tragedy. Earlier, a senior Kerala High Court judge suggested immediate judicial intervention to stop "man-made" tragedies like the Kollam mishap.