Police in the southern Indian state of Kerala detained five people Monday in connection with a temple fire that left at least 110 people dead. As details of this man-made tragedy, and the audacity with which rules were flouted, became apparent, the house that was most sought after, was that of eighty-year-old woman, Pankajakshi Amma.
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Permission was denied over fears the competing sides would try to outdo each other with more and more fireworks and because the temple gets overcrowded during the festival, she said. Those injured in the explosion will also receive 50,000 rupees ($751) in compensation.
Apart from the Chief Secretary, the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police of Kollam have been served the notices and asked to file reports within four weeks.
The tragic incident occurred around 3.30 am during the display of fireworks in the temple complex.
That resulted in massive explosions at the site that also destroyed the temple administration block, and another nearby building.
A case has been registered against six persons, including members of temple managing committee under Section 307 of eh IPC (attempt to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of IPC and under section 4 of Explosives Substances Act.
A police spokesman said the five people taken into custody were employees of one of two companies who were given the contract for running an unauthorized fireworks display at the temple to celebrate Hindu New Year.
A packed temple with thousands of visitors witnessed a deadly accident at the temple on early Sunday when a firework landed on a stockpile led to a massive fire explosion.
A blaze sparked by exploding fireworks killed scores of people at a Hindu temple in the Indian state of Kerala.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has announced a judicial probe and an investigation by the Crime Branch of Kerala Police into the tragedy.
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Meanwhile, Prof M Kutty, President of the Thiruvambadi Devaswom, one of the organisers of the famous Thrissur Pooram to be held on April 17 said, “We will be conducting the festival, observing all legal formalities”.
