Puttingal temple fire
Puttingal Devi Temple in 2008 | |
| Date | 10 April 2016 |
|---|---|
| Time | 03:30 IST (22:00 UTC on April 9) |
| Location | Paravur, Kollam, Kerala, India |
| Coordinates | 8°48′45″N 76°39′52″E / 8.8126°N 76.6644°E |
| Cause | Fireworks accident |
| Deaths | 111 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 350+ |
On 10 April 2016 at approximately 03:30 AM IST, the Puttingal Temple in Paravur, Kollam, Kerala, India, experienced a fireworks accident after firework celebrations went awry. As a result, 111 people were killed and more than 350 were injured, including some with severe burns. The temple and at least 150 houses in the area of the temple were damaged by the blast. According to local reports and eyewitnesses, the explosion and fire were caused by sparks from a firecracker being used in a competitive fireworks display igniting fireworks in a concrete storehouse. About 15,000 pilgrims were visiting the temple to mark local Hindu celebrations during the last day of a seven-day festival of the goddess Bhadrakali.
On 13 April, in the aftermath of the event, the Kerala High Court banned the display after sunset of sound-emitting firecrackers in all places of worship in the state.
This was the second major firework disaster reported in the news within southern India in recent years, after the Sivakasi factory explosion in the state of Tamil Nadu on 5 September 2012. The shrine is administered by a private trust.