The Gods Have Their Bombs!

The unregulated use of a dangerous explosive is the root cause of the Puttingal tragedy

- Jeemon Jacob

Investigations by the Kerala police into the April 9 Puttingal temple tragedy that killed 114 persons have zeroed in on the use of a banned explosive, potassium chlorate, as the prime reason for the magnitude of the tragedy. “The pyrotechnic workers we arrested admitted to using the chemical to enhance the sound and colours of the firecrackers,” S. Sreejith, Inspector General of Police, Kerala Crime Branch, told INDIA TODAY. The workers stockpiled nearly one tonne of the white, volatile powder in a godown on the premises of the 500-year-old temple in Kollam district, with catastrophic consequences.

Over 350 people were injured in the blast which took place after a stray rocket from the display hit the godown barely 15 metres from the temple yard. The highly volatile chemical stockpile exploded, showering lethal shrapnel all over. In one instance killing a motorcyclist over a kilometre away. Only 11 people died of burn injuries, investigators say. The rest were killed by the shockwave of the blast or crushed by the lethal debris—concrete beams and building material.