Police files case for culpable homicide, Puttingal Devi Temple officials unreachable

Top officials of the Puttingal Devi Temple in Kerala have reportedly gone missing after an illegal fireworks show left more than 100 people dead early this morning, police sources said.

Police have registered a case of culpable homicide against senior temple officials. 

An IANS correspondent tried to reach them on their mobile phones but they were switched off. 

A case has also been registered against the father-son duo of Surendran and Umesh who had organised the fireworks display. Both are being treated at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital.

The fireworks show is an annual event held during the Malayalam month of Meenam, which falls in April, in the temple located in the coastal town of Paravur, about 60 km from Thiruvananthapuram.

A person staying in the vicinity of the temple told IANS that till last year the fireworks display involved a competition between two groups.

"This time, permission was not granted but a pamphlet circulated on Saturday mentioned prizes for the best fireworks show," said the resident, who did not want to be identified by name.

According to him, the fireworks show would normally begin at around 10.30 pm, by when all rituals associated with the temple are completed and the shrine is closed for the night. Sunday's tragedy occurred about 30 minutes before the show was to end.

"The fireworks display of this temple is quite popular and it attracts lots of people from nearby areas. There were around 15,000 people both in and around the temple complex on Saturday," said the resident. 

--IANS