By Web Desk
Kasargode: In a fire incident involving firecrackers during the temple festival at Neeleswaram, three individuals, including members of the Anjuttampalam Veerarkavu Temple Committee, have been arrested. The arrested individuals are Bharathan, the committee president and Karuvashery native , Chandrashekaran, the secretary from Padannakkad, and Rajesh from Pallikkara, who allegedly ignited the firecrackers.
The incident occurred after midnight on Monday, injuring women and children among others. A total of 154 people were injured due to the fire, with 16 individuals in serious condition. Preliminary reports suggest that the accident was caused by firecrackers exploding near a building where they were stored. The injured are receiving treatment at various hospitals in Kerala and Karnataka.
The incident happened during the Neeleswaram Anjuttampalam Veerarkavu festival, which marks the beginning of the Kaliyattam festival in North Kerala. Thousands of people had gathered around the temple to witness the Chamundi’s Thottam Ezhunallippu when the accident occurred at around midnight.
Unlike previous years, the decision to explode firecrackers right next to where they were stored has been blamed for the disaster. The temple committee claims that only firecrackers worth 30,000 rupees were purchased.
