In the wake of the fire tragedy at the Puttingal Devi Temple in Kerala’s Kollam district, the Mahalingeshwara temple administration in Puttur, Dakshina Kannada district, is planning to significantly scale down the annual fireworks display near the temple on April 17.
The temple conducts fireworks display at a nearby paddy field annually during the jatra, and this attracts a huge crowd. The crackers are burst between 10 p.m. and midnight. The temple, managed by the Muzarai Department, spends about Rs. 6 lakh for it.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumar, who is overseeing the affairs of the temple, told The Hindu that the fireworks display is likely to be scaled down this year. “Display will be permitted only if there is no objection from the Fire and Emergency Services and the police. There has to be adequate safety and precautionary measures in place to permit the event.”
A meeting was held at the office of Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim here on Monday to take stock of the situation in Puttur temple and other temples in the light of the Kollam tragedy.
Mr. Kumar said that K.V. Rajendra, Assistant Commissioner, Puttur sub-division, and C.B. Ryshyanth, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Puttur, have been asked to submit a report after visiting the place in Puttur where the firecracker display is scheduled.
Official appointed
The State government has appointed M. Lakshminarayana, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department (Medical Education), as a nodal officer for providing assistance to those affected in the firework explosion at Paravur in Kollam district of Kerala, according to an official note.
