Kerala tragedy: 3 cars loaded with explosives found 1-km away from temple

Three cars, laden with high-grade explosives used in pyrotechnics, were found abandoned a kilometre away from the Puttingal temple yesterday

Kollam: Three cars, laden with high-grade explosives used in pyrotechnics, were found abandoned a kilometre away from the Puttingal temple yesterday. The vehicles were parked outside the Sarkara Devi temple. Police officers said the cars were on their way to the same temple where the tragedy took place early on Sunday morning.

A doctor checks an injured at the Kollam District Hospital. Pic/PTI

Soon after the discovery, police officers, members of Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad and senior government officials rushed to the spot. Sources claimed the explosives are likely to be defused today, as officers were busy doing paperwork to seek magisterial order for the same. Since live explosives have the tendency of becoming unstable after 48 hours, police have asked people living in the nearby houses to evacuate immediately.

Toll touches 109
Police have registered a case of attempt to murder and other offences against six persons, including members of temple managing committee and associates of firework contractors in connection with the Putttingal Devi temple fire tragedy, even as the toll touched 109 yesterday. Also, a case has been registered against six persons, including temple authorities, under
Sections 307 and 308 of the IPC and under Section 4 of Explosives Substances Act.

All norms violated
A day after the fireworks tragedy, it has emerged that there was gross violation of explosives norms and basic precautions were ignored, including a ban order.  Additional District Magistrate (Kollam) Shanawaz said a ban order had been violated and the culprits violating it were yet to be identified.

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