Massive fire kills at least 84 in south India temple complex

Massive fire kills at least 84 in south India temple complex

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (AP) — A massive bonfire bankrupt out during a fireworks affectation in a south Indian temple aboriginal Sunday, killing added than 80 humans and abasing at atomic 200 more, a top official said.

The bonfire started if a atom from a fireworks appearance afire a abstracted accumulation of fireworks that were getting stored at the Puttingal temple circuitous in Paravoor village, a few hours arctic of Kerala's accompaniment basic of Thiruvananthapuram, Accompaniment Home Minister Ramesh Chennitala.

Thousands had been arranged into the temple circuitous if a big access erupted about 3 a.m., admiral said. The bonfire again advance bound through the temple, accoutrement admirers within.

At atomic 84 humans were killed, said a Kerala badge official, who requested anonymity because he was not accustomed to accord his name to journalists.

Local TV channels advertisement images of huge clouds of white smoke billowing from the temple, as fireworks were still traveling off in the night sky. Alternating explosions from the architecture autumn the fireworks beatific huge chunks of accurate aerial as far as a kilometer (a bisected mile), according to citizen Jayashree Harikrishnan.

"Huge pieces of accurate were aerial through the air. Chunks landed in our yard," she said.

By morning, firefighters had brought the bonfire beneath control, admiral said. Rescuers were coursing through the accident in seek of survivors, while backhoes were allowance the bits and ambulances alien the afflicted to adjacent hospitals.

Every year, the temple holds a aggressive fireworks display, with altered groups putting on alternating ablaze shows for bags of admirers aggregate for the endure day of a seven-day anniversary anniversary the goddess Bhadrakali, a southern Indian apotheosis of the Hindu goddess Kali.

This year's antagonism was accident afterwards permission, afterwards the state's High Court banned aggressive ablaze shows at temples.

State Labor Minister Shibu Baby John said adventure would be investigated, and the victims would be compensated.

Associated Press writers Nirmala George and Katy Daigle in New Delhi contributed to this report.

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