close
close
bxsonair

Eyewitnesses describe ‘deafening explosion’ during temple fireworks mishap; Over 150 injured, 8 in critical condition

Posted on by Gerres
Eyewitnesses describe ‘deafening explosion’ during temple fireworks mishap; Over 150 injured, 8 in critical condition

As more than 150 people were injured in a fire during a temple festival at Neeleswaram in Kasargod, eyewitnesses described hearing a deafening explosion and witnessing a large fireball that engulfed the area.

The incident occurred around midnight when a fire reportedly broke out in a fireworks warehouse near the temple premises, leading to a massive explosion.

According to Manorama, Priyesh, a local youth participating in the festival, miraculously escaped the disaster. He and his cousins ​​were standing near the shed minutes before the explosion.

Among those present at the scene was Sreerag, former patron of the Yuvajana temple committee, who had come from Bengaluru for the festival. When the accident occurred, he was busy managing the crowd and clearing a path for Theyyam.

READ ALSO: 150 people were injured, 8 critically, in a fireworks accident at a festival in Kerala

About eight of the 150 injured are now in critical condition.

Local authorities said the injured were immediately shifted to hospitals in Kasargod, Kannur and Mangaluru for urgent medical attention. Kasargod police confirmed the incident and said further investigations were ongoing to determine the exact cause of the explosion.

Expressing shock, Kasargod MP Rajmohan Unnithan said, “Shocking news came from Nileshwaram in Kasargod district yesterday evening. About 154 people were injured and taken to various hospitals. This Theyyam festival is a custom of the people of North Malabar…police we did not keep vigil on this festival…”

The Theyyam festival, an integral part of the region’s cultural heritage, attracts large crowds every year. However, the incident raised concerns about a lack of security measures and supervision from the authorities.