By Oguine Daniel
A significant explosion involving fireworks injured more than 150 people during a religious festival at a temple in southern India, according to reports on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on Monday night when a fireworks storage facility near the Veerarkavu temple caught fire in Kasargod, located approximately 360 miles northwest of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala.
Injured individuals were rushed to various hospitals in the Kasargod, Kannur, and Mangaluru districts, with eight people reported to have sustained serious injuries.
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The demand in firecrackers in India is really strong, particularly during celebrations like religious festivals and weddings. These occasions often see a sudden surge in the use of fireworks as people celebrate and create a festive atmosphere. However, alongside this excitement, there are unfortunate incidents that occur, and fatal accidents connected to fireworks are not uncommon. Many of these tragic events happen because of unsafe working conditions in makeshift factories where firecrackers are produced.
For instance, in July of the previous year, a devastating explosion occurred at a fireworks factory located in the southern part of India. This tragic incident resulted in the loss of eight lives, highlighting the severe risks and dangers faced by workers in the firecracker industry. In another heartbreaking event, there was a huge fire at a firecracker factory in New Delhi back in 2018, which led to the deaths of 17 workers. Such incidents underline the urgent need for better safety standards and practices in these facilities. Additionally, in Madhya Pradesh the year before that incident, another explosion tragically caused the deaths of 23 individuals who were working to manufacture firecrackers. These continuous accidents raise serious concerns about the safety measures in place and the overall working conditions within the firework manufacturing sector in India.