Kollam temple fire facts for kids
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Puttingal Devi Temple in 2008
 Puttingal Temple
Puttingal Temple
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| Date | 10 April 2016 |
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| Time | 03:30 IST (22:00 UTC on April 9) |
| Location | Paravur, Kollam, Kerala, India |
| Deaths | 111 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 350+ |
On 10 April 2016 at approximately 03:30 AM IST, the Puttingal Temple in Paravur, Kollam, India, experienced an explosion and fire after afireworks celebration went wrong.
As a result, 111 people were killed and more than 350 were injured, including some with severe burns. The temple and at least 150 houses in the area of the temple were damaged by the blast. According to local reports and eyewitnesses, the explosion and fire were caused by sparks from a firecracker being used in a competitive fireworks display igniting fireworks in a concrete storehouse.
The temple did not have permission from Kerala government authorities to conduct a "competitive fireworks display". About 15,000 pilgrims were visiting the temple to mark local Hindu celebrations during the last day of a seven-day festival of the goddess Bhadrakali.
On 13 April, in the aftermath of the event, the Kerala High Court banned the display after sunset of sound-emitting firecrackers in all places of worship in the state.
This was the second major firework disaster reported in the news within southern India in recent years, after the Sivakasi factory explosion in the state of Tamil Nadu on 5 September 2012. The shrine is administered by a private trust.
Contents
Background
Temples in southern India often have festivals with displays of fireworks and firecrackers to appease the female deity (Goddess). Annual competitions are staged across the state of Kerala for the most spectacular displays. In 1952, 68 people were killed after a firecracker explosion at Sabarimala temple.
On 10 April 2016, two groups of devotees set off fireworks while thousands participated in the festival at Puttingal temple. The temple's authorities told police that they had verbal permission from the district authorities. 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.
The fire took place at approximately 03:30 IST (22:00 UTC) when an explosion occurred in a stash of firecrackers stored in the temple for upcoming Vishu celebrations. The apparent cause of the explosion was a firework, known locally as Amittu, which fell into the stash after being lit during the firework celebrations. The explosion caused the storage building and adjacent office building to collapse leading to most of the casualties. The blast was felt by people living more than a kilometer away from the temple.
Recovery
The Indian Navy dispatched one Dornier Do 228 transport aircraft and two helicopters for rescue transport along with medical teams from Headquarters Southern Naval Command (HQSNC), Indian naval air station located in Kochi.
The Indian Air Force, Army and Coast Guard were also involved.
The majority of the victims were taken to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.
Images for kids
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A collapsed concrete building in Paravur Puttingal Devi Temple premises after the fireworks mishap
See also
In Spanish: Explosión en Kollan para niños
