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| Kollam temple: Inquiry ordered into fireworks blast | Kollam temple: Inquiry ordered into fireworks blast |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Indian authorities have ordered a judicial inquiry into an explosion and fire at a Hindu temple in Kerala that killed more than 100 people. | Indian authorities have ordered a judicial inquiry into an explosion and fire at a Hindu temple in Kerala that killed more than 100 people. |
| Nearly 400 others were injured at the Puttingal temple in Paravur when a faulty firework fell onto a large stockpile of fireworks. | Nearly 400 others were injured at the Puttingal temple in Paravur when a faulty firework fell onto a large stockpile of fireworks. |
| A building at the temple then collapsed, causing many of the deaths. | A building at the temple then collapsed, causing many of the deaths. |
| Thousands had gathered to watch the fireworks display as part of a local new year festival. | Thousands had gathered to watch the fireworks display as part of a local new year festival. |
| Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the scene and spoke with victims in local hospitals, said the incident was "heart-rending and shocking beyond words". | Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the scene and spoke with victims in local hospitals, said the incident was "heart-rending and shocking beyond words". |
| "The incident is so grave that it is very difficult to describe in words," he added. "People who were 200 metres away were also hurt." | "The incident is so grave that it is very difficult to describe in words," he added. "People who were 200 metres away were also hurt." |
| 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 Kollam district. | The explosion happened at about 03:30 (22:00 GMT Saturday), hours after the event started in Kollam district. |
| 'Mad scramble' | |
| Yogita Limaye, BBC News, at the scene | |
| Outside the Puttingal temple there was an eerie silence the night after the fire tragedy. | |
| Rubble and firecracker shells were scattered all over the ground. And shoes. Lots of them. | |
| A pink flip-flop, one black sandal, a white sports shoe that's upside down - they were all lying not far from each other, all signs of the mad scramble that erupted as people tried to save themselves. | |
| Read Yogita's full report | |
| There were scenes of chaos as emergency teams were slow in reaching the area and 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 and rescue teams used bulldozers to clear the area looking for survivors. |
| A power outage hit the complex after the first explosion, further complicating rescue efforts. | A power outage hit the complex after the first explosion, further complicating rescue efforts. |
| Many of the dead were charred beyond recognition and would have to be identified by DNA tests, said Kerala police chief TP Senkumar. | Many of the dead were charred beyond recognition and would have to be identified by DNA tests, said Kerala police chief TP Senkumar. |
| The temple had been denied permission on safety grounds to hold the fireworks display but it had gone ahead under pressure from the crowd, officials said. | The temple had been denied permission on safety grounds to hold the fireworks display but it had gone ahead under pressure from the crowd, officials said. |
| Police are planning to take action against the temple administration and the contractors who were putting on the display. | Police are planning to take action against the temple administration and the contractors who were putting on the display. |
| Kerala's government said it had ordered a judicial inquiry that would work alongside the police's criminal investigation. | Kerala's government said it had ordered a judicial inquiry that would work alongside the police's criminal investigation. |
| The incident happened as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in Mumbai for a seven-day tour of India and Bhutan, and Kensington Palace said the couple's thoughts were with those assisting victims. | The incident happened as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in Mumbai for a seven-day tour of India and Bhutan, and Kensington Palace said the couple's thoughts were with those assisting victims. |
| Kerala is in the middle 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 middle of an election for a new state assembly, but political parties have called off campaigning as a mark of respect for the victims. |
| Religious festivals incidents in India | Religious festivals incidents in India |