Blatant disregard for rules framed by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion way back in 2008 with regard to the handling of explosives and the extreme negligence in adopting precautionary measures have led to an alarming rise in fireworks-related accidents.
As per the data available with the Thrissur-based Heritage Animal Task Force, 451 persons were killed in 213 such accidents happened in the State during the past three years. As many as 131 persons were killed at festival venues. The remaining 320 were killed in accidents occurred at illegal fireworks manufacturing units. While 54 people were killed in Thrissur district, 47 people were killed in Palakkad.
Petition filed
Talking to The Hindu here, task force secretary V.K. Venkitachalam said the latest among the accidents happened during Nenmara-Vallangi Vela festival on Saturday.
Over 25 people, including two women civil police officers, sustained injuries apart from the death of a person in subsequent commotion.
“I have already petitioned Nagpur-based Chief Controller of explosives seeking his intervention in the matter. We have evidence to prove that the festival organisers had used dynamites in the firework display flouting the rules,’’ he said.
Potassium nitrate used
He also said that the use of potassium nitrate instead of potassium chlorate in making the crackers had also contributed to the incident. “As per the law, dynamites must not be used for conducting fireworks display. It was the tacit support of the revenue and police officials that gave courage to the organisers to use crude fireworks items which produce high decibel sound,” he alleged.
“As per the law, all the fireworks items used at paddy fields are meant to explode at a height of more than 300 metres. But due to the crude method of manufacturing by non-skilled workers, many banned stuffs are being used in manufacturing. Since it is festival season, some controlling mechanism is required,” he said.
We have evidence to prove that the organisers of Nenmara-Vallangi Vela festival used dynamites in the firework display flouting the rules.
V.K. Venkitachalam
Heritage Animal
Task Force
