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Over 100 dead as fire sweeps through Hindu temple in India Fireworks accident at temple in India kills more than 100
(about 2 hours later)
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India — More than 100 people were killed and nearly 400 injured when a massive fire swept through a Hindu temple in southern India during an unauthorized fireworks display early Sunday, officials said. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India — The Hindu temple in southern India was packed with thousands for a religious festival early Sunday when the fireworks began — an unauthorized pyrotechnic display that went horribly wrong.
The fire started when a spark from the fireworks show ignited a separate batch of fireworks that were being stored at the Puttingal temple complex in the Kerala state village of Paravoor, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the state’s top elected official. Explosions and a massive fire swept rapidly through the Puttingal temple complex about 3 a.m. in the village of Paravoor, killing 102 people and injuring 380 others, officials said.
Thousands of people had been packed into the complex when a big explosion erupted at around 3 a.m., officials said. The blaze then spread quickly through the temple, trapping devotees within. Scores of devotees ran in panic as the massive initial blast cut off power in the complex, while other explosions sent flames and debris raining down, a witness said. Many people were trapped inside.
Chandy said that 102 people died and at least 380 were injured in the disaster. “It was complete chaos,” said Krishna Das of Paravoor. “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.”
Most of the deaths occurred when the building where the fireworks were stored collapsed, he told reporters at the temple complex. He said around 60 bodies of the victims had been identified so far. Das said the first deafening explosion occurred as the fireworks display was about to end and as he was walking away. It was followed by a series of blasts, he added.
Krishna Das, a resident of Paravoor, located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Kerala’s state capital of Thiruvananthapuram, said he had started walking away from the temple as the fireworks display was about to end when he heard a deafening explosion followed by a series of blasts. The fire started when a spark from the fireworks show ignited a separate batch of fireworks that were being stored in the temple complex, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the top elected official in Kerala state.
He said he saw scores of people running away, chased by fire and chunks of concrete and plaster from the temple building. As soon as the first explosion was heard, a power outage hit the complex. Most of the 102 deaths occurred when the building where the fireworks were stored collapsed, Chandy told reporters. About 60 bodies have been identified so far, he added.
“It was complete chaos,” Das said. “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.” Das said six ambulances had been parked outside the complex as a precaution. They carried the injured to hospitals in the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Paravoor, as well as the city of Kollam.
He said that six ambulances had been parked outside the temple complex as a precaution. They were used to rush the injured to hospitals in the nearby cities of Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. Villagers and police pulled many of the injured from under slabs of concrete.
Local villagers and police pulled out many of the injured from under slabs of concrete. TV channels showed video of huge clouds of white smoke billowing from the temple, as fireworks were still going off in the sky.
Television channels broadcast images of huge clouds of white smoke billowing from the temple, as fireworks were still going off in the night sky. Successive explosions from the building storing the fireworks sent huge chunks of concrete flying as far as a kilometer (half a mile), according to resident Jayashree Harikrishnan. One of the explosions sent huge chunks of concrete flying as far as a kilometer (half a mile), said Jayashree Harikrishnan, another resident.
By around 7 a.m., firefighters had brought the blaze under control, officials said. Rescuers sifted through the wreckage in search of survivors, while backhoes cleared the debris and ambulances drove away the injured. Firefighters brought the blaze under control by about 7 a.m., officials said. Rescuers searched the wreckage for survivors, while backhoes cleared debris and ambulances drove away the injured.
Thousands of anxious relatives went to the temple in search of their loved ones. Many wept and pressed police officials and rescue workers for information on their family members. Thousands of worried relatives went to the temple to search for loved ones. Many wept and pressed police officials and rescue workers for information.
At one of the main hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram, senior physician Thomas Mathew said that judging from injuries, a stampede was also likely to have occurred at the temple. At one of the main hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram, Dr. Thomas Mathew said that judging from injuries, a stampede was also likely to have occurred.
The temple holds a competitive fireworks display every year, 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. The temple holds a competitive fireworks show every year, with different groups putting on displays for thousands gathered for the end of a seven-day festival honoring the goddess Bhadrakali, a southern Indian incarnation of the Hindu goddess Kali.
This year, however, authorities in Kollam district denied temple officials permission to hold the fireworks display, said A. Shainamol, the district’s top official. This year, however, authorities in Kollam district had denied temple officials permission to hold the fireworks display, said A. Shainamol, the district’s top official.
“They were clearly told that no permission would be given for any kind of fireworks,” Shainamol told reporters.“They were clearly told that no permission would be given for any kind of fireworks,” Shainamol told reporters.
She said permission was denied over fears that the competing sides would try to outdo each other with more and more fireworks, and because the temple gets overcrowded during the festival. Permission was denied over fears the competing sides would try to outdo each other with more and more fireworks and because the temple gets overcrowded during the festival, she said.
Public displays of fireworks can be conducted only with permission from district officials, Shainamol said.Public displays of fireworks can be conducted only with permission from district officials, Shainamol said.
Chandy, the state chief minister, said that he had appointed a retired judge to investigate the events leading to the fire, and that strict action would be taken against those who had ignored rules. Chandy, the state’s chief minister, said he had appointed a retired judge to investigate the events leading to the fire and that strict action would be taken against those who had ignored rules.
“We will be investigating how the orders were flouted and who was responsible for the decision to go ahead with the firework display,” Chandy said.“We will be investigating how the orders were flouted and who was responsible for the decision to go ahead with the firework display,” Chandy said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who flew in from New Delhi on Sunday, visited the site and discussed with Chandy and other Kerala leaders measures that could be taken to help the survivors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew in from New Delhi to visit the site and met with Chandy and other Kerala leaders on measures to help the survivors.
Modi was accompanied by a team of doctors and burn specialists from New Delhi who will stay on to help treat the survivors, officials said. Modi was accompanied by a team of doctors and burn specialists from New Delhi who will stay on to help treat the injured, officials said.
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Associated Press writers Nirmala George and Katy Daigle in New Delhi contributed to this report.Associated Press writers Nirmala George and Katy Daigle in New Delhi contributed to this report.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.