Chief Controller of Explosives attached to the Petroleum and Safety Organisation (PESO) Sudarasan Kamal has said that the precincts of the Puttingal Devi temple where a fireworks explosion occurred on Sunday killing more than 100 persons lacked a safety distance for conducting a fireworks display of such magnitude.
Talking to the media on Monday after inspecting the explosion site, he said that the fireworks storehouse in the temple precincts was unauthorised since it was constructed illegally. Such a storehouse needs the sanction of the PESO.
He said that the PESO would look into whether the two persons entrusted with conducting the fireworks display were in possession of the LE-6 licence. If they were not in possession of such a licence, it was a serious violation of Rule 7 of the Explosives Rules 2008.
Samples of chemicals taken from the site would be sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for confirmation of the substances.
Mr. Kamal was accompanied by Joint Chief Controller of Explosives (Chennai) A.K. Yadav, Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives (Hyderabad) R. Venugopal and Deputy Controller of Explosives (Ernakulam) S.K. Kulkarni.
After inspecting the explosion site, the PESO officials also visited hospitals and examined the nature of the injuries of those hospitalised.
Mr. Venugopal said among the victims undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts, seven have more than 60 per cent burns and four have been found to have sustained 40 per cent burns.
