Nearly 100 dead in Indian temple blaze
- 8 years ago
A massive fire broke out during a fireworks display in a Hindu temple in south India early Sunday, killing more than 80 people and injuring at least 250 others, a top official said.
The fire started when a spark from the fireworks show ignited a separate batch of fireworks that were being stored at the Puttingal temple complex in Paravoor village, a few hours north of Kerala's state capital of Thiruvananthapuram, said State Home Minister Ramesh Chennitala.
Thousands had been packed into the temple complex when a big explosion erupted around 3 A.M., officials said.
The blaze then spread quickly through the temple, trapping devotees within.
At least 84 people were killed, said a Kerala police official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to give his name to journalists.
The fire started when a spark from the fireworks show ignited a separate batch of fireworks that were being stored at the Puttingal temple complex in Paravoor village, a few hours north of Kerala's state capital of Thiruvananthapuram, said State Home Minister Ramesh Chennitala.
Thousands had been packed into the temple complex when a big explosion erupted around 3 A.M., officials said.
The blaze then spread quickly through the temple, trapping devotees within.
At least 84 people were killed, said a Kerala police official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to give his name to journalists.