Indian authorities have ordered a judicial inquiry into an explosion and fire at a Hindu temple in Kerala that killed more than 100 people.

Nearly 400 others were injured at the Puttingal temple in Paravur when a faulty firework fell onto a large stockpile of fireworks.

A building at the temple then collapsed, causing many of the deaths.

Thousands had gathered to watch the fireworks display as part of a local new year festival.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the scene and spoke with victims in local hospitals, said the incident was "heart-rending and shocking beyond words".

"The incident is so grave that it is very difficult to describe in words," he added. "People who were 200 metres away were also hurt."

'Mad scramble'

Outside the Puttingal temple there was an eerie silence the night after the fire tragedy.

Rubble and firecracker shells were scattered all over the ground. And shoes. Lots of them.

A pink flip-flop, one black sandal, a white sports shoe that's upside down - they were all lying not far from each other, all signs of the mad scramble that erupted as people tried to save themselves.

There were scenes of chaos as emergency teams were slow in reaching the area and rescue teams used bulldozers to clear the area looking for survivors.

A power outage hit the complex after the first explosion, further complicating rescue efforts.

Many of the dead were charred beyond recognition and would have to be identified by DNA tests, said Kerala police chief TP Senkumar.

The temple had been denied permission on safety grounds to hold the fireworks display but it had gone ahead under pressure from the crowd, officials said.

Police are planning to take action against the temple administration and the contractors who were putting on the display.

Kerala's government said it had ordered a judicial inquiry that would work alongside the police's criminal investigation.

The incident happened as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in Mumbai for a seven-day tour of India and Bhutan, and Kensington Palace said the couple's thoughts were with those assisting victims.

Kerala is in the middle of an election for a new state assembly, but political parties have called off campaigning as a mark of respect for the victims.

Source:
courtesy of BBC NEWS

by BBC News

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