Over 100 Die And 200 Are Injured In A Fireworks Puttingal Temple Complex Fire In Paravoor Village, South India

A massive fire broke out during a fireworks display in a Hindu temple in south India early Sunday, killing more than 100 people and injuring at least 200 others, officials said.

Thousands had been packed into the Hindu temple complex when a big explosion erupted around 3 a.m., officials said. The blaze then spread quickly through the temple, trapping devotees within.

Over 100 people are reported to have died  and at least 200 have been  injured in a massive fire that broke out in South India in a Hindu Temple during a fireworks display.

The fireworks display triggered the ignition of stored fireworks  at the Puttingal temple complex in Paravoor village which led to the collapse of the fireworks storage building.

Authorities had reportedly not authorised the  fireworks display as fireworks  are required by law  to be  stored at least 100 meters from temples, sadly not the case in this disaster.

Several buildings within a kilometer radius of the disaster site, suffered  damage after explosions caused windows to break and cracks to develop on  walls.

Fire fighters eventually succeeded in bringing the inferno  that broke out around 3 am, under control by this morning.  Thousands of people had packed the temple when the huge explosion triggered a blaze that led to a stampede as people tried to flee the smoke, fire and explosions for safety. It appears that while  women and children are among the injured, the majority of victims are  male.

Photo-The Aftermath Of the Temple fire and collapse (Reuters: Sivaram V)