Firework explosion at Kerala Temple festival injures over 150

A fireworks mishap during a temple festival in Neeleswaram, Kerala's Kasaragod district, late on Oct 28 injured over 150 people, including eight in critical condition, according to police officials.

The injured have been taken to several hospitals in Mangaluru, Kannur, and Kasaragod. It is believed that a fireworks storage facility close to Veerarkavu Temple caught fire, causing the tragedy. The accident happened around midnight.

High-ranking district government officials have arrived at the location, including the district police chief and the collector.

Local communities have come together to support the victims and their families while authorities investigate the cause of the fire.

Five people who were admitted to Kanhangad District Hospital are in extremely critical condition, according to local media.

The district hospital received 33 patients, while 12 were admitted to Arimala Hospital and 19 to Aishal Hospital in Kanhangad.

Aster MIMS Hospital in Kannur admitted five patients; 11 were taken to Nileshwar Taluk Hospital and 40 to Sanjeevani Hospital.

Additionally, several injured individuals have been admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Pariyaram, Kannur, as well as hospitals in Mangaluru, according to district officials.

The incident occurred during a fireworks show for the Moolamkuzhi Chamundi Theyyam celebration in Nileshwar, Kasaragod district, when a misfired cracker hit a building containing explosives.

The explosion set off a large fire, injuring several spectators, including women and children who had gathered to watch the Theyyam performance.

In another incident, a fire broke out in a moving train near Rohtak, Haryana, on the evening of Oct 28 after an explosion involving firecrackers carried by a passenger, officials said. The incident resulted in minor injuries to a few passengers.

The train was traveling from Jind to Delhi via Bahadurgarh and Sampla. According to a Government Railway Police (GRP) official, the train was immediately engulfed in smoke when the fire started in one section.

He said that the incident resulted in minor injuries to two or three passengers. Forensic specialists have been called to inspect the area, and further investigations are underway.