Thousands had packed the temple to celebrate the Hindu new year festival of Vishu when a stray firework apparently landed on a stockpile of them, triggering the massive blast.
Advertisement
Five temple officials who fled after the tragedy surrendered to police on Monday night.
The head of the manufacturing unit was injured was one of the 400 people who were in hospitals across the state with burns as well as injuries caused by flying concrete and debris.
Police said many devotees were still missing, feared dead, and dozens of bodies could not be identified. The police officials alleged that the collector was accusing the commissioner to hide her faults.
About 200 of the injured were still being treated in various hospitals in the area, police said.
The fireworks display was held by temple officials despite government officials refusing permission.
The police have registered cases against 20 people, including the contractors and their assistants responsible for the fireworks display, under different sections of the Indian Penal code, including section 307 for attempt to murder, 308 for attempt to culpable homicide and section 4 of the explosive substances act. A sixth was arrested on Tuesday, Deputy Superintendent of Police Radhakrishnan Pillai of the Crime Branch said. They will remain detained while police investigate the case and will later be charged.
The Kerala High Court has suggested a CBI probe into the Puttingal firework mishap and said that the state government itself should initiate the steps in this regard. During the day, crackers can be burst and fireworks used, provided they conform to prescribed noise levels.
When asked about the progress in the investigation, Ananthakrishnan, ADGP (Crime Branch) said the probe is on. The judges demanded to know if “anti-national forces” were involved with the Sunday explosions.
Severely criticising the police and local administration in allowing the fireworks display to go ahead without obtaining proper permission, the High Court said that, even during daytime, fireworks display should not exceed 140 decibels. The order came on a day the state government called an all-party meeting on Thursday to discuss to impose a ban or not. “What Kerala needs is proper mechanisms”, he said.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, China’s top leadership, including President Xi Jinping, today expressed shock and grief over the deadly temple fire in Kerala that killed 109 people.
