This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/10/india-temple-fire-kollam-deaths-kerala-vishu
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Scores killed in India as fire breaks out at temple in Kollam | Scores killed in India as fire breaks out at temple in Kollam |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A large fire at a crowded Hindu temple complex in the south Indian town of Kollam has reportedly left more than 84 people dead and 200 injured. | |
| The incident took place at 3.30am as thousands of worshippers had gathered to celebrate the Hindu new year festival Vishu at the Puttingal temple, in Kerala state. | The incident took place at 3.30am as thousands of worshippers had gathered to celebrate the Hindu new year festival Vishu at the Puttingal temple, in Kerala state. |
| Pictures from Puttingal temple in Kollam (Kerala) when fire broke out that claimed 75 lives, 200 injured. pic.twitter.com/v0pyVFNcVB | Pictures from Puttingal temple in Kollam (Kerala) when fire broke out that claimed 75 lives, 200 injured. pic.twitter.com/v0pyVFNcVB |
| State home minister Ramesh Chennitala said the fire started when a stray firework hit a store of fireworks inside inside the temple complex. | |
| Fire at temple in Kollam is heart-rending & shocking beyond words. My thoughts are with families of the deceased & prayers with the injured. | Fire at temple in Kollam is heart-rending & shocking beyond words. My thoughts are with families of the deceased & prayers with the injured. |
| Large crowds had come together at the temple to watch a fireworks display. | Large crowds had come together at the temple to watch a fireworks display. |
| Reports said thousands of people were packed into the temple and the narrow lanes around it in the southern state of Kerala for the display that began at midnight and went on for hours. | Reports said thousands of people were packed into the temple and the narrow lanes around it in the southern state of Kerala for the display that began at midnight and went on for hours. |
| One of the crackers fell on a shed where the fireworks were stored, setting off the fire, local television reported. | One of the crackers fell on a shed where the fireworks were stored, setting off the fire, local television reported. |
| Some reports suggested the explosions caused a roof to collapse, crushing worshippers inside. | |
| Successive explosions from the building storing the fireworks sent huge chunks of concrete flying as far as a kilometre, according to resident Jayashree Harikrishnan. | Successive explosions from the building storing the fireworks sent huge chunks of concrete flying as far as a kilometre, according to resident Jayashree Harikrishnan. |
| “Huge pieces of concrete were flying through the air. Chunks landed in our yard,” she said. | “Huge pieces of concrete were flying through the air. Chunks landed in our yard,” she said. |
| Krishna Das, a resident of Paravoor village, said he had started walking away from the temple as the fireworks display was about to end when a deafening explosion followed by a series of blasts went off. | |
| “I had been in the temple just a few minutes before watching the fireworks,” Das said. He said he saw scores of people running away, chased by fire and chunks of concrete and plaster from the temple building. | |
| Das said as soon as the first explosion was heard, a power outage hit the complex.“It was complete chaos. People were screaming in the dark. Ambulance sirens went off, and in the darkness no one knew how to find their way out of the complex,” he said. | |
| Local TV channels broadcast images of huge clouds of white smoke billowing from the temple, as fireworks were still going off in the night sky. They also broadcast footage of people, some clutching children with burn injuries, being taken to hospitals. | Local TV channels broadcast images of huge clouds of white smoke billowing from the temple, as fireworks were still going off in the night sky. They also broadcast footage of people, some clutching children with burn injuries, being taken to hospitals. |
| As day broke, thousands of anxious relatives reached the temple in search of their loved ones. Many wept and pressed police officials and rescue workers for information on their family members. | |
| The Times of India said the conclusion of Puttingal temple festival is marked by fireworks and that one of the fireworks ignited firecrackers stored in a shed, leading to a huge explosion. | The Times of India said the conclusion of Puttingal temple festival is marked by fireworks and that one of the fireworks ignited firecrackers stored in a shed, leading to a huge explosion. |
| Images from the scene posted on Twitter showed a huge fireball erupting into the night sky. | Images from the scene posted on Twitter showed a huge fireball erupting into the night sky. |
| A video posted on Twitter showed fireworks exploding into the sky as blast after blast shook the temple and flames erupted. | A video posted on Twitter showed fireworks exploding into the sky as blast after blast shook the temple and flames erupted. |
| By morning, firefighters had brought the blaze under control, officials said. Rescuers were sifting through the wreckage in search of survivors, while backhoes were clearing the debris and ambulances ferried the injured to nearby hospitals. | By morning, firefighters had brought the blaze under control, officials said. Rescuers were sifting through the wreckage in search of survivors, while backhoes were clearing the debris and ambulances ferried the injured to nearby hospitals. |
| Every year, the temple holds a competitive fireworks display, with different groups putting on successive light shows for thousands of devotees gathered for the last day of a seven-day festival honoring the goddess Bhadrakali, a southern Indian incarnation of the Hindu goddess Kali | Every year, the temple holds a competitive fireworks display, with different groups putting on successive light shows for thousands of devotees gathered for the last day of a seven-day festival honoring the goddess Bhadrakali, a southern Indian incarnation of the Hindu goddess Kali |
| This year’s competition was happening without permission, after the state’s High Court banned competitive light shows at temples. | This year’s competition was happening without permission, after the state’s High Court banned competitive light shows at temples. |
| State labour minister Shibu Baby John said incident would be investigated, and the victims would be compensated. | State labour minister Shibu Baby John said incident would be investigated, and the victims would be compensated. |
| Kollam beach lies about 70km north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. | Kollam beach lies about 70km north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. |
| The port town of Kollam attracts thousands of tourists each year, with its panoramic views of the Arabian Sea. It’s the second largest port in Kerala after Cochin. | The port town of Kollam attracts thousands of tourists each year, with its panoramic views of the Arabian Sea. It’s the second largest port in Kerala after Cochin. |
| This is a breaking news story please check back for updates... | This is a breaking news story please check back for updates... |