Fireworks display despite restrictions at Kerala temple

The Deputy Commissioner of Kollam had restricted the use of fireworks in the temple and the police continued to watch the display for 3 hours, a preliminary inquiry into the temple fire incident at Kerala has revealed. The state government had ordered a high level inquiry into the incident in which nearly 83 persons were killed and over 350 were injured.

Authorities say that there was a restriction on the use of firecrackers. However there was a fireworks competition too, officials also said. At the time of the incident there were 10,000 people present at the temple. 83 persons have died and 350 injured due to an explosion caused during a fireworks display at the Puttingal temple in Paravur, Kerala. The incident took place at around 3.30 AM on Sunday.

The local corporator says that it is not clear if the temple had permission to conduct the fire works display. The normal practise if to store the fire works in a building and later take to a spot where the display is held. In this incident, it appears as though the shed housing the fireworks caught fire leading to the incident.