Kollam temple fire: Blatant violation of rules reason

Thiruvananthapuram: Although  laws exist to prevent the use of high-decibel fireworks in temple festivals,  the firework accident at Puttingal Devi temple happened due to the blatant violation of rules.

The Supreme Court in 2002 had banned the use of dynamites and ‘gundu’  and explosives above the sound level of 125 decibels. However, they continue to be used in festivals in the state and perhaps were used in Puttingal also, sources said.

Even for the fireworks below  125 decibels, the samples have to be taken to the departmental testing station at Nagpur.  The Supreme Court  had  also banned fireworks between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. However, this is the time most fireworks are carried out. The fireworks at  Puttingal temple started at 10 p.m. and the accident occurred at 3.30 p.m.

There was also a ban on competitive fireworks in temples citing inadequate safety norms. However, as per information printed in the notice of the Puttingal festival,  it was a competitive fireworks between Varkala Krishnankutty and Kazhakuttom Surendran.

Another violation was  the sub-surface fireworks which are illegal. In   more than 75 percent of the religious festivals, high decibel crackers are usually exploded below the surface. Most of the religious festivals also do not follow the Supreme Court judgment which imposed a ban on the mixture of chlorate with potassium, which is used for high-decibel crackers.

As per the explosive rules of 2008,  people and movable objects in the vicinity have to be evacuated up to a distance of 100 metres. However, this was clearly violated at Puttingal.

The rules specify that the district magistrate will issue the “licence to possess gunpowder not exceeding 15 kg at any one time.” However, it was clear the licensee had far more explosives in his possession during the time of accident.
A total of 213 incidents of fireworks mishaps have occurred during the past three years, said Mr V.K. Venitachalam, secretary Heritage Animal Task Force, Thrissur.

A total of 131 persons died at fireworks display places and 320  at unauthorised manufacturing places, Mr Venkitachalam said.