Kasaragod Fireworks Disaster: More Than 150 Injured During Theyyam Celebration
Kasaragod Fireworks Disaster: More Than 150 Injured During Theyyam Celebration.
Over 150 people were injured, with eight in serious condition, due to a fireworks accident at a temple festival near Neeleswaram in Kerala’s Kasaragod late on Monday, according to a report from news agency PTI citing police. The injured individuals have been taken to various hospitals in Kasargod, Kannur, and Mangalore. The incident is believed to have occurred when a fireworks storage facility near Veerar Kavu Temple caught fire around midnight.
#Kasargod Firecracker room caught fire at veerakaav temple https://t.co/3tqCteOJXf pic.twitter.com/4TU0dkLZOb
— 𝖆𝖓𝖚𝖕 (@anupr3) October 28, 2024
Top officials from the district administration, including the collector and the district police chief, have arrived at the scene. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, while local communities are rallying to support the victims and their families. Local media reported that the condition of five individuals at Kanhangad district hospital is critical. A total of 33 people were admitted to the district hospital, with 19 at Aishal Hospital in Kanhangad, 12 at Arimala Hospital, and 40 at Sanjeevani Hospital. Additionally, 11 were taken to Nileshwar Taluk Hospital, and five to Aster MIMS Hospital in Kannur. The district administration also noted that more injured persons have been admitted to hospitals in Mangalore and the Government Medical College Hospital in Pariyaram, Kannur.
As reported by Mathrubhumi, which cited eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred during a fireworks display at the Moolamkuzhi Chamundi Theyyam festival in Nileshwar, Kasaragod district, Kerala. A misfired cracker hit a building that was storing explosives, leading to a significant explosion that caused a large fire. This explosion resulted in injuries to numerous bystanders, including women and children who had gathered nearby to watch the Theyyam performance.
