Indian police detained two individuals on Tuesday following a temple fireworks display that escalated into a devastating explosion, resulting in nearly a hundred people being hospitalized, with eight in critical condition.
Hundreds of people had gathered around a Hindu temple in Nileshwaram, located in the southern state of Kerala, on Monday evening to witness the fireworks. Videos posted by Indian newspapers captured the scene, showing a large crowd eagerly watching the display. Suddenly, from within a building, a series of crackles were heard, followed by a powerful ball of flame shooting high into the sky.
"Around eight people are in critical condition, and approximately 154 have been reported injured, with 97 people currently admitted to the hospital," local police chief Shilpa Dyavaiah informed AFP. Dyavaiah explained that the firecrackers were ignited very close to the area where they were stored, causing sparks from the burst crackers to reach the cache.
Indian media reports, citing officials, indicated that the blaze resulted in burns to the faces and hands of those in the tightly packed crowd. Local government official K. Inbasekhar stated that no permission had been granted for the fireworks show. The temple president and secretary have been taken into custody, according to The Hindu newspaper.
Religious gatherings in India have a history of tragic incidents due to safety violations and inadequate crowd management. In 2016, at least 112 people were killed in a massive explosion caused by a banned fireworks display at a temple celebrating the Hindu new year.
As India prepares for its major fireworks season, a traditional celebration for the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, which takes place later this week, the spectacular and colorful festival honors the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness.
However, the fireworks also emit hazardous acrid smoke, prompting the capital, New Delhi, to ban firecrackers to mitigate hazardous air pollution. Police often hesitate to enforce bans against violators, given the strong religious sentiments associated with the crackers by Hindu devotees.
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