Kerala temple blaze: Five detained for unauthorised fireworks show

Five people have been detained in connection with the fire at the Puttingal temple in Kollam district of Kerala, which killed 110 and injured hundreds.

Five people have been detained in connection with the fire at the Puttingal temple in Kollam district of Kerala, which killed 110 and injured hundreds.

Policemen cordon off the area after a fire broke out at a temple in Kollam in Kerala. A fire swept through a temple in Kerala early on Sunday. (Reuters Photo)

“Five people have been detained in connection with the fireworks display,” Kerala director general of police (DGP) TP Senkumar told ANI.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had visited the injured victims of the fire on Sunday, sought a detailed report from the state administration on how the fire broke out and caused many casualties and extensive damage.

At least 110 people died and scores were injured in a blaze at the Puttingal Devi temple during a festival at Paravur on Sunday morning.

Preliminary inquiries by the police revealed that sparks from an ignited high-intensity pyrotechnic display spread to a storehouse (Kambapura) adjoining the temple, where a large cache of explosives was stocked, resulting in a massive blast. Locals say the impact of the explosion was felt within 1km radius of the temple.