The petitioners, who are residents of Choorakkadu Thekkumbhagam, alleged that a huge quantity of explosives were illegally transported and kept in a store house at the temple by the temple’s management committee, devaswom and the Vadekkeppuram NSS Karayogam though they did not have any license to store, transport or use explosives.
Despite that, they still transported and stored firecrackers without taking any safety measures, the petitioners submitted.
The explosion occurred while unloading the firecrackers and it killed two persons, injured over ten persons and damaged houses and other properties within a 1 km radius of the blast.
“It is to be noted that, the explosive were stored in a densely populated area without adhering to any of the mandatory provisions of law… Windows, doors, all glass materials including crockery item, lights, wardrobes, and kitchen cupboards etc were all broken and destroyed. Roof tiles, asbestos sheet were also broken. Further, sharp objects including glass materials pierced through a few of the petitioners’ body causing bodily injury as well. The sound of explosion was trembling and colossal that many were taken to hospitals due to bleeding from ears as well as other complications,” the plea explained.
According to the petitioners, the incident occurred not merely because of the actions of the persons who transported and stored the explosive but also because of dereliction of duty on the part of the State government and its instrumentalities.
Source: Barandbench
