Kerala Temple Fire: At least 102 killed in explosion; images of the mishap

[caption id=“attachment_2721306” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  At 3.30 am on Sunday, fireworks blast occurred in Puttingal temple in Kerala. Photo: Vineeth Nair[/caption] A fire broke out in Kerala early on Sunday morning. At least 102 people have been in killed in the blast with over 350 injured. [caption id=“attachment_2721308” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  As the fireworks and pyrotechnics display was coming to a close at 3 am, an explosion is suspected to have occurred at the storeroom ‘Kambapuram’ filled with crackers and pyrotechnics materials, police said. Photo: Vineet Nair[/caption] The fireworks and pyrotechnics display was coming to a close at 3 am, the explosion is suspected to have occurred at the storeroom ‘Kambapuram’ filled with crackers and pyrotechnics materials, police said. Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy termed as “unprecedented” and “alarming” the situation at the Puttingal Devi temple. [caption id=“attachment_2721312” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Pile of fireworks found at the site of the accident. Photo: Vineeth Nair[/caption] Eye witnesses told television channels that the accident took place at 3.30 am. The sound of the explosion in the store-room was heard in around two-km radius of the temple, they said. [caption id=“attachment_2721314” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Rescue operations are in full swing. Photo: Vineeth Nair[/caption] District Collector Shinamol, who visited the spot, said evacuation and rescue operations were going on full-swing. People trapped in the concrete structure, which was completely destroyed in the mishap, were taken out, police said. [caption id=“attachment_2721328” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Over 350 people have been injured. Photo: Vineeth Nair[/caption]

The government would extend treatment facilities to the injured persons in the hospitals preferred by their relatives, said Chief Minister Oomen Chandy. [caption id=“attachment_2721334” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Rescue operations are going on at the blast site. Photo: Vineeth Nair[/caption] The injured have been rushed to Trivandrum Medical College in the State capital and five persons died after being brought there.