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Puttingal temple fire

Coordinates:8°48′45″N76°39′52″E/ 8.8126°N 76.6644°E/8.8126; 76.6644
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Puttingal temple fire
Puttingal Devi Temple in 2008
Puttingal Temple is located in India
Puttingal Temple
Puttingal Temple
Puttingal Temple is located in Kerala
Puttingal Temple
Puttingal Temple
Date10 April 2016
Time03:30IST(22:00UTCon April 9)
LocationParavur,Kollam,Kerala,India
Coordinates8°48′45″N76°39′52″E/ 8.8126°N 76.6644°E/8.8126; 76.6644
CauseFireworks accident
Deaths111[1]
Non-fatal injuries350+
A collapsed concrete building inParavur Puttingal Devi Templepremises after the fireworks mishap

On 10 April 2016 at approximately 03:30 AMIST,[a]thePuttingal TempleinParavur,Kollam,Kerala,India,experienced afireworks accidentafter firework celebrations went awry. As a result, 111 people were killed[1]and more than 350 were injured, including some with severe burns.[2]The temple and at least 150 houses in the area of the temple were damaged by the blast.[3]According to local reports and eyewitnesses,[2]the explosion and fire were caused by sparks from a firecracker[2]being used in a competitive fireworks display igniting fireworks in a concrete storehouse.[2][4]About 15,000 pilgrims were visiting the temple to mark localHinducelebrations during the last day of a seven-day festival of the goddessBhadrakali.[5]

On 13 April, in the aftermath of the event, theKerala High Courtbanned the display after sunset of sound-emitting firecrackers in all places of worship in the state.[6]

This was the second major firework disaster reported in the news within southern India in recent years, after theSivakasi factory explosionin the state ofTamil Naduon 5 September 2012.[7] The shrine is administered by a private trust.[8]

Background[edit]

Temples in southern India often have festivals with displays of fireworks and firecrackers to appease the female deity. Annual competitions are staged across the state of Kerala for the most spectacular displays. In 1952, 68 people were killed after a firecracker explosion atSabarimala temple.[9]

On 10 April 2016, two groups of devotees set off fireworks while thousands participated in the festival atPuttingal temple.[9]The temple's authorities told police that they had verbal permission from the district authorities.[9]On 12 April, they revealed that, due to safety concerns, the temple had been denied permission, but it proceeded due to pressure from the people.[10][11]

Fire[edit]

The fire took place at approximately 03:30IST(22:00UTC) when an explosion occurred in a stash of firecrackers stored in the temple for upcomingVishucelebrations.[12]The fireworks involved in thisfireworks accidentwas known locally asAmittu,which fell into the stash after being lit during the firework celebrations.[13]The explosion caused the storage building and adjacent office building to collapse leading to most of the casualties.[14]The blast was felt by people living more than a kilometer away from the temple.[2][14]

Recovery[edit]

TheIndian Navydispatched oneDornier 228transport aircraft and two helicopters for rescue transport along with medical teams from Headquarters Southern Naval Command (HQSNC), Indian naval air station located inKochi.[15]TheIndian Air Force,ArmyandCoast Guardwere also involved.

The majority of the victims were taken toThiruvananthapuram Medical College.[16]

Investigation[edit]

An investigation was ordered byRamesh Chennithala,the Home Minister of Kerala.[14]The police plans to take action against the display contractors and the temple administration.[14]On 11 April 2016, five men who worked at the temple were taken into police custody for questioning.[17]During the night of 11 April and into 12 April, the police arrested a further seven people connected with Puttingal temple, including the president.[10] The Government of India took cognizance of the fateful event and appointed DR.A.K.Yadav, Joint Chief Controller of Explosives, Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization(PESO) as the inquiry officer vide Government of India order No: 31(03)/2016 -Expl dated 22/04/2016 under section 9(A) of Explosives Act,1884. Dr.R.Venugopal, Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives, PESO, Hyderabad, Dr.K.B.Radhakrishnan, Professor & Head Department of Chemical Engineering, TKM College of Engineering and Shri.G.M Reddy, Joint Chief Controller of Explosives (Retired), PESO were appointed as Assessors in Inquiry by the Government of India. The Inquiry officer issued public notices and press releases regarding the inquiry in leading news papers. Conducted its proceedings by visiting the site of accident, sittings at paravoor and Kollam. The Inquiry commission submitted its report on time The immediate and proximate causes of accident in the report are conducting display without a valid licence by the paravur puttingal dewasom managing committee, Non maintenance of safety distance as required under Explosives Rules 2008 between display site and spectators, use of unauthorized fireworks for display, storage of unauthorized fireworks, Absence of crowd control mechanism, use of prohibited chemicals in the manufacture of display fireworks.

Reactions[edit]

Prime Minister of IndiaNarendra Modiwrote on Twitter that the accident was "heart-rending and shocking beyond words"[18]and that he was on his way to visit the area later in the afternoon, as wasChief Minister of Kerala,Oommen Chandy.[19]Kerala state home ministerRamesh Chennithalavisited the disaster site.[14]Political parties postponed campaigning for theelection to the Kerala Legislative Assemblyout of respect.[14]NeighbouringKarnatakaoffered to send a team but was turned down as Kerala apparently had the requirements.

Modi announced₹2 lakh(US$2,400) ex-gratia to the kin of the deceased and₹50,000(US$600) to critically injured people.[20]Oommen Chandy announced ex-gratia relief of₹10 lakh(US$12,000) to relatives of each of those killed in fire tragedy,₹2 lakh(US$2,400) for seriously injured.

In the wake of the disaster, the Kerala Disaster Management Authority decided to re-examine the disaster preparedness of theThrissur Pooram.[21]The Chief Minister of Kerala, Oommen Chandy said that "Permission was never taken for the storage of fireworks inside the Temple."[22]

Movie[edit]

Based on this incident as a backdrop, a Malayalam film namedKuttanpillayude Sivarathriwas released in 2018 starringSuraj Venjaramoodu.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^9 April, 22:00UTC


See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"Kollam temple fire: Death toll reaches 111, 40 badly wounded".Times of India.Retrieved12 April2016.
  2. ^abcdeNair, C. Gouridasan; Pereira, Ignatius (10 April 2016)."Live–Kollam temple fire: 106 dead; PM Modi reaches site".The Hindu.Kollam.Archived fromthe originalon 10 April 2016.Retrieved10 April2016.
  3. ^Reuters Editorial (12 April 2016)."Indian court bans use of high-decibel crackers after temple fireworks blaze kills 110".Reuters.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  4. ^Vidyadharan, Sovi."Over 100 Dead, 350 Injured in Kerala Temple Firework Mishap".New Indian Express.Archived fromthe originalon 11 April 2016.Retrieved12 April2016.
  5. ^"As it happened: 110 dead in Kerala temple fire, Modi meets CM Chandy".HindustanTimes.com/.10 April 2016.Retrieved11 April2016.
  6. ^"Kerala HC bans noise-making fireworks between sunrise and sunset".The Indian Express.13 April 2016.
  7. ^"Sivakasi fire unit mishap: 36 killed; PM, Sonia express grief".Hindustan Times.6 September 2012.
  8. ^G, Ananthakrishnan (11 April 2016)."Kollam temple fire: Fireworks send concrete missiles flying into homes".ABP News. Archived fromthe originalon 14 April 2016.Retrieved12 April2016.
  9. ^abcQureshi, Imran; Padanna, Ashraf (11 April 2016)."Puttingal: India's 'temple of fireworks'".BBC News.Retrieved13 April2016.
  10. ^ab"Puttingal temple fire: Seven officials detained by police".BBC News. 12 April 2016.Retrieved13 April2016.
  11. ^"'Competitive Fireworks' May Have Led To Kollam Temple Fire: 10 Developments ".NDTV.Retrieved10 April2016.
  12. ^"Scores killed in India as fire breaks out at temple in Kollam".The Guardian.9 April 2016.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved10 April2016.
  13. ^"Kerala fire tragedy: Temple ignores ban, fireworks show leaves over 100 dead, 400 injured".The Indian Express.11 April 2016.Retrieved11 April2016.
  14. ^abcdef"India Kerala: Temple fireworks blast kills at least 100".BBC News. 10 April 2016.Retrieved10 April2016.
  15. ^"Live updates: 102 die in fireworks blast at Puttingal temple in Kollam, Kerala".ManoramaOnline.Archived fromthe originalon 10 April 2016.Retrieved10 April2016.
  16. ^C. Maya (10 April 2016)."Kollam temple fire: Medical College hospital struggles to handle huge influx of victims".The Hindu.Thiruvananthapuram.Retrieved10 April2016.
  17. ^"Puttingal temple: Five detained over India fireworks blast".BBC News. 11 April 2016.Retrieved11 April2016.
  18. ^@narendramodi (10 April 2016)."Fire at temple in Kollam is heart-rending & shocking beyond words. My thoughts are with families of the deceased & prayers with the injured"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  19. ^"Kerala Temple Fire 'Heartrending And Shocking', Will Visit Kollam Soon: PM Modi".NDTV.Retrieved10 April2016.
  20. ^"Kollam Temple Fire: PM Modi announces ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakhs, to visit site".The Hindu.10 April 2016.ISSN0971-751X.Retrieved10 April2016.
  21. ^K. S. Sudhi (10 April 2016)."Now, disaster-preparedness of Thrissur Pooram to be reviewed".The Hindu.Kochi.Retrieved10 April2016.
  22. ^Vidhi Doshi (11 April 2016)."Kerala temple fire leaves scores dead after stray firework sparks blasts".the Guardian.Retrieved11 April2016.

24. Inquiry Report of the Fireworks Display Accident on 10.04.2016 at Puttingal Devi Temple Premises, Paravur, Kollam District, Kerala. Inquiry officer - Dr.A.K.Yadav, Joint Chief Controller of Explosives, Chennai. Assessors in Inquiry: Dr.R.Venugopal, Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives, PESO, Hyderabad, Dr.K.B.Radhakrishnan, Professor & Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, Kerala and Mr.G.M.Reddy, Joint Chief Controller of Explosives, (Retired), PESO.

External links[edit]

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