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| Kollam temple: India fireworks blast kills at least 100 | Kollam temple: India fireworks blast kills at least 100 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An explosion and blaze sparked by fireworks have killed at least 100 people at a Hindu temple in the Indian state of Kerala, police say. | An explosion and blaze sparked by fireworks have killed at least 100 people at a Hindu temple in the Indian state of Kerala, police say. |
| The fireworks exploded as thousands of people had gathered to celebrate a local new year festival. More than 200 were injured. | The fireworks exploded as thousands of people had gathered to celebrate a local new year festival. More than 200 were injured. |
| A building at the temple then collapsed, causing many of the deaths. | A building at the temple then collapsed, causing many of the deaths. |
| An investigation has been ordered as officials say permits for the display had been refused after safety fears. | An investigation has been ordered as officials say permits for the display had been refused after safety fears. |
| In pictures: India temple fire | In pictures: India temple fire |
| The explosion happened at about 03:30 (22:00 GMT Saturday), hours after the event started, in the coastal town of Paravur, in Kollam district. | The explosion happened at about 03:30 (22:00 GMT Saturday), hours after the event started, in the coastal town of Paravur, in Kollam district. |
| There were scenes of chaos as emergency teams were slow in reaching the area, witnesses said. Rescue teams used bulldozers to clear the area looking for survivors. | There were scenes of chaos as emergency teams were slow in reaching the area, witnesses said. Rescue teams used bulldozers to clear the area looking for survivors. |
| A team of specialist doctors has been sent from Delhi amid reports of horrific burns suffered by those wounded. Several people were said to be in critical condition in hospitals. | A team of specialist doctors has been sent from Delhi amid reports of horrific burns suffered by those wounded. Several people were said to be in critical condition in hospitals. |
| Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has flown to Kerala, said the incident was "heart-rending and shocking beyond words". | Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has flown to Kerala, said the incident was "heart-rending and shocking beyond words". |
| 'Flying concrete pieces' | 'Flying concrete pieces' |
| Many of the dead were charred beyond recognition and would have to be identified by DNA tests, Kerala police chief TP Senkumar said. | Many of the dead were charred beyond recognition and would have to be identified by DNA tests, Kerala police chief TP Senkumar said. |
| The fireworks had been stored ready for celebrations of a temple festival. | The fireworks had been stored ready for celebrations of a temple festival. |
| The local district magistrate had denied permission for the display to be held this year because of safety concerns and complaints from residents about the danger of these fireworks in the past. | The local district magistrate had denied permission for the display to be held this year because of safety concerns and complaints from residents about the danger of these fireworks in the past. |
| A power outage hit the complex after the first explosion, further complicating rescue efforts, a witness said. Houses in the area of the temple were also said to have been badly damaged by the blast. | A power outage hit the complex after the first explosion, further complicating rescue efforts, a witness said. Houses in the area of the temple were also said to have been badly damaged by the blast. |
| "Our house is unliveable. Everything is blown off... If we had stayed in our house last night, we would have all died", resident Anitha Prakash told BBC Hindi. | "Our house is unliveable. Everything is blown off... If we had stayed in our house last night, we would have all died", resident Anitha Prakash told BBC Hindi. |
| One of the victims was said to be a biker hit by a piece of flying concrete 1km (0.6 miles) away from the scene. | One of the victims was said to be a biker hit by a piece of flying concrete 1km (0.6 miles) away from the scene. |
| "Huge pieces of concrete were flying through the air," said resident Jayashree Harikrishnan. "Chunks landed in our yard." | "Huge pieces of concrete were flying through the air," said resident Jayashree Harikrishnan. "Chunks landed in our yard." |
| The Kerala government has ordered an investigation, and the police are planning to take action against the temple administration and the contractors who were putting on the display. | The Kerala government has ordered an investigation, and the police are planning to take action against the temple administration and the contractors who were putting on the display. |
| "There was no permission to even store the fireworks," Kerala's Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said. | "There was no permission to even store the fireworks," Kerala's Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said. |
| Religious festivals incidents in India | Religious festivals incidents in India |
| The incident happened as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in Mumbai for a seven-day tour of India and Bhutan. | The incident happened as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in Mumbai for a seven-day tour of India and Bhutan. |
| They had been informed about it and sent their thoughts to all who were assisting the victims, Kensington Palace said. | They had been informed about it and sent their thoughts to all who were assisting the victims, Kensington Palace said. |
| Fireworks and firecrackers are commonly used at temple festivals and other public events and accidents are not uncommon. | Fireworks and firecrackers are commonly used at temple festivals and other public events and accidents are not uncommon. |
| Kerala is in the midst of an election for a new state assembly but political parties have called off campaigning as a mark of respect for the victims. | Kerala is in the midst of an election for a new state assembly but political parties have called off campaigning as a mark of respect for the victims. |
| Indian media reaction | |
| "Fireworks house became slaughter house," is the headline in one local daily, Deepika, while another, Mathrubhumi, declares Paravur a "disaster zone". | |
| It is simply the state's "biggest tragedy", according to local news channel Manorama News. | |
| Amid the grieving, Hindi channel IBN7 looks for "the culprit" while another Hindi channel, Zee News, demands to know, "Who is the murderer of the pilgrims?", and wonders, "When will we learn from past tragedies?" | |
| Were you at the temple? Did you witness what happened? If you are safe and able to share your experiences email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Were you at the temple? Did you witness what happened? If you are safe and able to share your experiences email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |