A fire in the southern Indian state of Kerala has killed about 100 people gathered at a temple for a fireworks display marking the start of the local
A fire in the southern Indian state of Kerala has killed about 100 people gathered at a temple for a fireworks display marking the start of the local Hindu new year.
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The chief state minister said the temple had earlier been denied permission for the event.
“The safety precautions are not taken here properly and the strength of the fireworks: the items they have selected are not suitable for this place,” medical officer Dr Saniam Soman told reporters.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew to the town of Kollam with a team of doctors to help state authorities cope with the large number of injured.
A local magistrate said people living near the temple had complained about the danger of fireworks at similar events in the past.
Witnesses say the blaze started when a cracker fell onto a shed where the fireworks were stored, sparking a string of powerful explosions.