INDIAN police said on Monday (April 11) they have filed initial charges against six people over a massive explosion during a banned fireworks display that killed over 100 people and left many more with horrific burns.
Thousands had packed into a Hindu temple in Kerala on Saturday (April 9) night for the show when a stray firework apparently landed on a stockpile of them, triggering a huge blast that tore through concrete buildings.
Police said they were investigating who was responsible for holding the fireworks display even though authorities in Kerala's Kollam district had refused permission for it.
The blast was strong enough to flatten a building in the temple complex and killed 109 people, with hundreds more still being treated for their injuries.
'A case was registered yesterday against six people,' said the head of Kerala police crime branch S Ananthakrishnan.
'Six people have been named in the case – three from the temple committee, three who were contractors for the fireworks display.'
Initial charges against the six include culpable homicide not amounting to murder, he said.
None of the six has yet been arrested. Police said one was in hospital and the other five had gone missing.
Police also said they were questioning five temple workers involved in staging the fireworks display. They faced no charges at this stage.
Witnesses told how the force of the explosion sent concrete slabs and roof tiles slamming into the panicked crowd of onlookers in the early hours of Sunday (April 10).
Thousands had gone to the temple to celebrate the Keralan festival of Vishu, marking the Hindu new year.
Local resident Shiva Kumar said the victims were mostly young men competing to set off the most explosive crackers.
'It was a sort of competition between two groups,' he told reporters.
'The firecrackers are sponsored by families who get them made, they are locally manufactured and don't follow the usual norms. Sometimes they use gunpowder to get that extra firepower.'
One man living near the temple told how his son Adiraj, a factory worker, had gone to the display with three old friends. Only one survived.
'He was with his friends near the structure where the firecrackers were kept,' said Baba, 46, giving only one name.
'He had dressed up for the festival after having dinner and said he will be with his friends. We saw his body afterwards at the hospital morgue… his memory will haunt us every year on this day.'
Firefighters and police battled to douse the fire that broke out after the explosion and to rescue those trapped at the complex, but some victims were charred beyond recognition.
More than 30 have yet to be identified and a team of specialist doctors was deployed from New Delhi to treat the horrific burn injuries.
Some buildings at the temple complex were completely flattened by the force of the blast, while others had their roof tiles blown off or plaster ripped from the walls.
Fires and stampedes are not uncommon at temples and during religious occasions, often because of poor security arrangements and lax safety standards.
The Kerala government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the disaster, which comes as the southern state heads to the polls.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the scene of the disaster on Sunday. Activists from various parties were distributing free food at Kollam hospital on Monday.
Kerala is currently governed by the Congress party, which is in opposition at the national level, although the Communist party is also popular in the state.
Local residents said representatives of both parties had visited victims' homes to offer help.
'This incident happened at election time and that's why political leaders are coming here,' said local resident T Rajesh.
'No one will come once voting is over.'
