What Happened Exactly?

Southern India is known for its vibrant temple festivals, where fireworks and firecrackers are often displayed to honor the female deity. In Kerala, there are annual competitions for the most magnificent fireworks displays.

On April 10, 2016, during the Puttingal temple festival in Kerala's Kollam district, two groups of devotees ignited fireworks. Despite not having written permission from the district authorities, the temple’s management claimed to have received verbal approval.

The tragedy occurred when a burning ember from an air-burst firework, known locally as Amittu fell into a stockpile of fireworks, triggering a series of explosions. The subsequent blasts caused the collapse of the storage and adjacent office buildings, leading to the majority of casualties. The shockwave was felt by residents living over a kilometer away.

Investigations revealed that the temple had been denied permission due to safety concerns, but the event proceeded due to local pressure.

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Could the Tragedy Have Been Prevented?

• There was a significant lack of oversight from the authorities.
• The district administration should have enforced the Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) .
• Local interests, hell-bent on carrying out the celebrations with fireworks, disregarded safety warnings.
• Despite opposing the fireworks, the Police and district administration were unable to act due to the overwhelming local support.
• This incident is a consequence of the weakening of the Police and local administration by locally dominant interests.

What Could Have Been Done Differently by the District Administration?

• Better regulation of entry and exit points could have potentially reduced the number of casualties.
• Enforcing a minimum safety distance of 25 meters between the fireworks and the crowd could have been beneficial.
• A safer storage area for the fireworks, away from the main event, should have been arranged.
• Supreme Court guidelines regarding crowd management should have been adhered to. If these were followed, the disaster may have been averted.
• The fireworks should have been placed on an elevated platform with sandbags at the base to prevent contact with combustible materials.
• Firefighting vehicles and medical personnel should have been present at the scene.

What Measures Did the Government Administration Take Following the Incident?

The Government of Kerala implemented both short-term and long-term measures following the tragedy:

Short term:

• A thorough inquiry was conducted by the state government, and those responsible were held accountable.
• Adequate medical assistance was provided to the injured.
• Strict and uniform guidelines were issued for future events and organisations.
• The government announced an ex-gratia relief of ₹10 lakh for the relatives of those killed in the tragedy, and ₹2 lakh for the seriously injured.

Long term:

• It was proposed to extend the tenure of the district administration to allow them to understand the intricacies of district administration better.
• It became mandatory to follow the detailed guidelines of the Home Ministry for any future events of similar magnitude.

Laws and Regulations Regarding the Use of Firecrackers

• According to the “Environment Protection Act, 1986 and the Environment Protection Rule, 1986 and 1999 (amendment) “The manufacture, sale or use of firecrackers generating noise level exceeding 125 dB(AI) or 145 dB(C) pk at 4 meters distance from the point of bursting shall be prohibited.”
• Determining decibel levels requires expertise. Hence, it is the manufacturer's responsibility to comply, and citizens must avoid purchasing crackers that violate this provision.

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Supreme Court Guidelines on the Use of Firecrackers

In a landmark judgement in 2005, the Supreme Court issued the following guidelines on the use of firecrackers:

• The Department of Explosives should categorize firecrackers into two – (i) Sound emitting firecrackers, and (ii) Colour/light emitting firecrackers.
• Every manufacturer must mention the chemical contents of each firecracker on its box and ensure that it meets the requirements laid down by the Department of Explosives.
• This order was enforced under Articles 141 and 142 of the Indian Constitution.
• However, the authorities have been hesitant and cautious in implementing this order.

Conclusion

• While bursting crackers is a long-standing tradition, it can have disastrous consequences if not managed properly.
• Authorities must ensure strict adherence to safety guidelines.
• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) act for disaster management and policy should be strictly followed.
• Crowd management needs to be improved.
• Technology should be leveraged to aid in disaster management.
• Standard operating procedures must be adhered to.
• It is essential to raise awareness, educate the public, and strengthen the administration to fulfill its duties effectively.

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