In the worst-ever accident of its kind in Kerala, over 105 persons were killed and 500 injured after a fireworks display caused a massive explosion at the Puttingal Devi Temple complex at Paravoor in Kerala’s Kollam district.
The State Government ordered a judicial probe by a retired High Court Judge along with an investigation by the Crime Branch into the tragedy, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy announced after an emergency Cabinet meeting. The Kollam District Administration had not cleared the fireworks display. Those dead included the fireworks contractor and many policemen on security duty.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who termed the incident as “heart-rending” and “shocking” announced ₹ 2 lakh for the next of the kin of the dead and ₹50,000 each for the injured.
He took stock of the situation at Kollam and met the injured.
Wayward firework According to the police, the explosion was caused by a “wayward firework” that fell on the building in which the fireworks were stored triggering a series of explosions; the ceiling of the building collapsed.
The explosion occurred around 3 am, a few minutes before the fireworks display, which had begun after midnight, was to have ended. Of the nearly 500 injured, many are in critical condition in various government and private hospitals at Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi.
Payments to bereaved The State Cabinet decided to pay an ex gratia of ₹10 lakh to the families of the dead, ₹2 lakh each to the grievously injured and ₹50,000 to those with less serious injuries.
The government has also decided to foot the bill of all those being treated at private hospitals. The Centre also despatched teams of medical specialists and rescue helicopters. The Armed Forces supported the operations.
Known for its brilliance, the fireworks display at the Meena Bharani festival at the Puttingal Devi Temple attracts tens of thousands of people. It is said that this year not only was the display conducted despite the denial of permission by the district administration, a fireworks competition, which was specifically prohibited by the authorities, was also organised.
Worship & Tragedy : A timeline
July 14, 2015 – 22 people, mostly women, killed in a stampede during Godavari Pushkaralu in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh
October 3, 2014 - 32 people die in a stampede after Ravana-burning during Dussehra at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, Bihar
January 18, 2014 - 18 die in stampede outside residence of Dawoodi Bohra spiritual leader Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin at Mumbai's Malabar Hill
October 13, 2013 - 115 die in a stampede on bridge to Ratangarh temple in Datia district, Madhya Pradesh
February 10, 2013 - 36 people killed in stampede at Allahabad railway station on way to Kumbh Mela
November 19, 2012 - 20 people killed in stampede during Chhath festival at a ghat in Patna, Bihar
November 8, 2011 - 22 die in stampede in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, at Har-ki-Pauri ghat
January 14, 2011 - 106 pilgrims killed in a stampede at Sabarimala shrine in Kerala
March 4, 2010 - 63 killed in a stampede at Ram Janki Temple in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh
September 30, 2008 - Over 200 killed in a stampede at the hill-top Chamunda Devi temple in Jodhpur in Rajasthan
August 3, 2006 - Nearly 150 people die in stampede in Himachal Pradesh’s Naina Devi temple
January 26, 2005 - Nearly 350 people killed at a religious fair at Mandhar Devi temple in Satara district, Maharashtra