The Kerala government said on Wednesday that it will bear all the medical expenditure of people injured in the fireworks accident at the Anjootambalam Veerarkavu Temple at Nileshwaram in Kasaragod district. This decision was made during a cabinet meeting led by the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The incident occurred around 12:30 am on Tuesday during the Kaliyattam festival that left 154 people injured. The Human Rights Commission has asked the local authorities including the District Collector and Superintendent of Police to submit a detailed report within 15 days.
Continuing with the investigation, four persons, including one called Vijayan, have been taken into custody by the Nileshwaram police. Vijayan was reportedly present at the fireworks display. The police earlier took into custody three others, including the president of the Veerarkavu Temple Committee, all named in relation to the accident which happened on Theyyam festival day.
The Kasaragod District Police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident further. Eight members of the temple committee have been charged under non-bailable sections for allegedly holding the fireworks exhibition without permission and not following the safety measures. A first information report (FIR) filed indicates that the negligent display of fireworks led to a fire, and so action was taken under the Explosive Substances Act, among other serious offenses.
Kasaragod MP Rajmohan Unnithan expressed shock over the incident, pointing out that the Theyyam festival is an important culture for the people of North Malabar. He added that this festival, which begins from the Veerarkavu Temple, is a very revered tradition followed by many families in the region.
The victims are being treated in different hospitals as the community seeks to come to terms with this tragic incident. The case is still under investigation as the authorities work to understand the circumstances that led to this serious incidence.
With inputs from ANI.