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Kerala fire: Over 150 injured, 8 critical, in fireworks accident near Veerarkavu temple
Kerala fire: The fire broke out near Veerarkavu Temple in Kerala's Kasaragod. The injured have been taken to hospitals in Kasargod, Kannur, and Mangaluru.
Kerala fire news: More than 150 people were injured, including eight seriously, in a fireworks accident during a temple festival near Neeleswaram in Kerala's Kasaragod late on Monday, news agency PTI reported citing police.
The injured have been taken to various hospitals in Kasargod, Kannur, and Mangaluru. It is suspected that the accident took place when a fireworks storage facility near Veerarkavu Temple caught fire. The accident occurred around midnight, the report added.
Top district administration officials, including the collector and the district police chief, have reached the spot.
Authorities are probing the cause of the fire, as local communities come together to support the victims and their families.
Also Read: Huge firecracker explosion at Kerala temple festival caught on camera | Shocking video
Local media reported that the condition of five persons admitted to the Kanhangad district hospital is very critical. Mathrubhumi reported that 33 persons were admitted to the district hospital. It added that 19 people were admitted to Aishal Hospital, Kanhangad, while 12 have been admitted to Arimala Hospital.
Forty people have been admitted to Sanjeevani Hospital, while an additional 11 have been taken to Nileshwar Taluk Hospital and five to Aster MIMS Hospital in Kannur. According to the district administration, more injured persons have also been admitted to hospitals in Mangaluru and to the Government Medical College Hospital in Pariyaram, Kannur.
According to Mathrubhumi, which quoted eyewitnesses, the incident took place during a fireworks display at the Moolamkuzhi Chamundi Theyyam festival in Nileshwar, Kasaragod district, Kerala, when a misfired cracker struck a building storing explosives.
The resulting explosion ignited a large fire, injuring several bystanders, including women and children who had gathered nearby to watch the Theyyam performance.
80% burns injuries
The district collector said those who were seriously injured had 80 per cent burns.
"The cause of the accident is being ascertained. Samples have been collected from the site. A case was lodged," he said.
He further said according to a preliminary probe, the fireworks storage facility and the place where the crackers were being burst were close by.
"The safety precautions were not taken. The requirement of maintaining a minimum distance of 100 meters between the two was not followed. No permission was taken either for storage of fireworks," he added.
According to the police, it is suspected that the accident occurred when the fireworks storage facility near Veerarkavu Temple caught fire.
The accident occurred around midnight, they said.
Moving train catches fire in Haryana, few injured
In an unreated story, a fire broke out in a moving train near Rohtak, Haryana, on Monday evening following an explosion in firecrackers that were being carried by a passenger, officials said. A few passengers sustained minor injuries in the incident.
The train was headed to Delhi from Jind via Sampla and Bahadurgarh. The fire broke out in a portion of the train and it was soon shrouded in smoke, the Government Railway Police (GRP) official said.
Two to three passengers sustained minor injuries in the incident, he said. Forensic experts were called in to examine the spot and further investigation is underway, the officials said.
