Kerala - Kochi   

Remaining explosives yet to be defused at Maradu

KOCHI: A day after a fireworks display killing two persons at Maradu Kottarathil Bhagavathy Temple here, the police and the district administration are struggling to defuse the remaining explosives.

The accident occurred when a sample firework display was halfway through at the temple. The main fireworks display was scheduled early Tuesday morning and another round on Tuesday evening.

District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, in his capacity as District Magistrate, banned all explosions following the accident. The explosives meant for these displays were on the Maradu Government High School premises.

With the local explosives experts who set them up absconding after the accident and the bomb squad of the police not having the expertise to handle fireworks, the district administration on Tuesday sought the assistance of traditional fireworks experts from Thrissur and Palakkad.

“There is a strong suspicion that explosives used in the display were much in excess than what was allowed. Fort Kochi RDO M.K. Joseph and Explosives Controller Venugopal have already started investigation into it,” the Collector said.

He said there was no mechanism to check whether explosives were used only in allowed quantities in festivals, even though the fireworks were scheduled well in advance. “These contractors often do not take licence or apply for limited explosives.”

A core committee has been formed with the Collector as chairman and the City Police Commissioner and the Explosives Controller as members to discuss what to do with the remaining explosives. The police have registered a case, but no one has been taken into custody. It has been reported that the organisers had not informed the local police station the details about the fireworks display, especially the quantity of explosives being used.

Meanwhile, a compensation of Rs.10,000 each for the family of those killed and Rs.5,000 each for those who were seriously injured in the accident has been announced.

A decision on further financial assistance to the victims will be taken at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, according to Ministers K.P. Rajendran and S. Sarma, an official release said.

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