Over 150 Injured in Kerala Temple Fireworks Accident Amid Festive Celebrations

Kasaragod Temple Tragedy: Fireworks Accident Leaves 150+ Injured Amid Festivities

Over 150 people were injured, including 10 seriously, in a fireworks accident at a temple in Kerala’s Kasaragod district last night. Videos show fireworks causing a large fire and smoke, prompting people on the temple grounds to run for safety.

The accident happened at the Anjootambalam Veererkavu temple during celebrations marking the start of the festive season in the north Malabar area.

Witnesses said the firework display was underway around midnight when one of the fireworks may have fallen into a nearby shed where more fireworks were kept. Footage shows the crowd in shock as the shed burst into flames and smoke.

Priyesh, who was at the temple with his cousins, described the incident: “It started with a loud blast, and we saw a ball of fire. Panic followed, and the crowd was so large that people couldn’t move freely. We started taking people to nearby hospitals,” he told Manorama Online.

Sreerag, who had come from Bengaluru for the festival and was helping manage the crowd, heard the explosion. "Usually, we expect a big crowd on the festival’s second day, but Monday night was especially crowded."

“Chinese-made fireworks were stored in the shed, and a spark from another firework may have fallen into it, setting them off,” he explained.

Several residents reported that the shed was too close to the area where the fireworks were being set off. Panchayat representatives pointed to a lack of precaution. “Crackers are usually not set off on such a large scale here. This is a small event, but the shed should have been farther from the fireworks area,” local ward member E Shajeer told Manorama Online.

Kasaragod district official Inbasekar K noted that fireworks should be stored at least 100 meters from where they are lit, but in this case, the distance was only a few feet.

The temple committee president and secretary are now in police custody.

Temple authorities reported that low-intensity fireworks worth about ₹28,000 were stored in a temporary tin shed, which exploded and led to the accident.