An accidental explosion of live shells kept for display of fireworks in connection with the festival of a local temple at Kappad here on Tuesday left 14 people injured, six of them seriously.
The accident occurred at the Kappattukavu Temple under the Chakkarakkal Police Station limits here at around noon. Six of the injured,identified as M.V. Shaji (31), K.V. Vivek (25), C.M. Prakashan (39), K.P. Anilkumar (42), Ashwin (6) and O.C. Anil (34), have been rushed to the Pariyaram Medical College Hospital with burn injuries. Shaji and Vivek suffered 60 per cent burn injuries, the hospital authorities said.
According to the police, the mishap occurred when the live ‘kathina’ fireworks shells kept in the temple premises burst following sparks from a used shell taken for cleaning and refilling with gunpowder. The accident occurred when large number of devotees turned up at the temple to watch the Teyyam ritual in connection with the festival.
Local people and temple authorities immediately rushed the injured to the hospital. Eight others who suffered minor injuries in the accident have been admitted to a private hospital here.
