Kerala Temple Fire: 102 Dead, 10,000 Were Watching Fireworks

KOLLAM, KERALA: 

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Fire broke out during celebrations involving firecrackers at 3 am
2. More than 10,000 people were in the ground when the fire started
3. PM Modi is heading to Kerala to take stock of the situation

 Over 100 people have been killedand 350 injured in a massive fire that broke out during afireworks display at the Puttingal temple in Kerala'sKollam district early this morning.

The fire started around 3 am at a ground next to thetemple packed with 10,000 to 15,000 people watchingan all-night fireworks display. (Pictures)


Officials said a spark ignited a stack of fireworks stored in preparation for the New Year festival of Vishu on Thursday in the coastal town 60 km from Thiruvananthapuram.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the temple had defied orders not to allow "competitive fireworks", which are a tradition during the seven-day festival of Goddess Kali.