Kollam temple fire: Banned chemical potassium chlorate used in fireworks

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 11: Firecrackers used in Kerala's Puttingal Devi temple contained banned chemical potassium chlorate, media reported on Monday.

"The traces of highly explosive chemical was found in the fireworks used at the temple," a police official was quoted as saying by the CNN-IBN.

The highly explosive Potasium chlorate is used in making of crude bombs and the chmical has been banned in India since 1992.

The chemical is used illegally to make firecrackers more noisy and colourful at low coast.
A case of attempt to murder was filed against six persons including temple officials while the Kerala High Court will hear tomorrow the plea for a ban on cracker bursting and fireworks display in temple functions.

Tales of horror continued to pour in as the death toll in fireworks display in Puttingal Devi temple early Sunday morning that went awry rose to 109 while more than 300 people were being treated for injuries.

A case has been registered against six persons, including members of temple managing committee under Section 307 of eh IPC (attempt to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of IPC and under section 4 of Explosives Substances Act.

A crime branch probe also began today into the fireworks tragedy.

OneIndia News