A tragic temple fire incident took place on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, where a major fireworks explosion took place at the Theru Anjootambalam Veererkavu temple in Nileshwaram, Kasaragod district, Kerala. This led to 150 people getting injured. The accident occurred during the Vellatam Theyyam ritual around 12:20 am, when a crowd, including women and children, gathered to witness the ceremonial fireworks. Several firecrackers were grouped and kept at a place and stray sparks from the fireworks ignited the stored firecrackers, which soon turned into a massive fireball.
The sudden ignition of crackers didn’t give much time for people to protect themselves or get away from the fireball, resulting in serious injuries to several attendees. Out of them, eight individuals are reported to be in critical condition. And remaining people suffered burns on their faces, hands, and clothing. Victims were rushed to the Kasaragod District Hospital for immediate medical aid. However, as the patient’s condition got critical, the individuals were taken to different hospitals in the region, including private facilities in Mangaluru and Kannur, and the Kannur Government Medical College Hospital.
No permission granted for firecrackers
Officials have said that they are monitoring the situation and there is strong presence of local police to ensure safety. Efforts are underway to rescue and assist the injured were being led by Kasaragod Collector K. Inbasekhar, District Police Chief D. Shilpa, and Kanhangad Deputy Superintendent of Police Babu Peringeth, with support from the Nileswaram fire brigade and local volunteers. Watch video here
Massive Fire Accident in Kerala's Kasaragod
A major explosion occurred during the Kaliyatam festival at the Neeleswaram temple when fireworks ignited near a storage area holding additional firecrackers. Over 150 people have been injured in this incident. pic.twitter.com/KpPwCTgy8R
— India Brains (@indiabrains) October 29, 2024
The temple president and secretary have been taken into custody for questioning as Collector Inbasekhar stated that no permission had been granted for the fireworks display and yet fireworks were kept at the temple. Right now Local authorities are working to understand the series of events leading up to the explosion, including the source of the fireworks and the precautions taken by the organizers.
Victims taken to different hospitals
The injured were sent to several hospitals for treatment, including Kanhangad District Hospital, where 16 people were admitted, and Mavungkal Sanjeevani Hospital, which treated 10. Among those with severe injuries were individuals identified as Prakashan, his son Advaith, and another person named Latish, all currently receiving treatment at the Kannur Government Medical College. Other injured individuals were hospitalized at facilities such as Kannur Government Medical College Hospital (5 patients), Kanhangad Aishal Hospital (17), Kanhangad Arimala Hospital (3), MIMS Hospital in Kannur (18), MIMS Hospital in Kozhikode (2), Kanhangad Deepa Hospital (1), Cheruvathur KAH Hospital (2), Kanhangad Mansoor Hospital (5), and AJ Medical College in Mangaluru, which received 18 people.
The explosion has prompted renewed scrutiny of safety protocols during religious festivals, especially those involving fireworks, which remain popular in the region. Local authorities have appealed to the public to avoid crowded spaces around pyrotechnic displays and reiterated the importance of adhering to safety regulations for public events.
