At least 100 people were killed and another 380 injured during a fire that erupted at a temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala early Sunday morning.
"Massive fire kills more than 100 in south #India temple" https://t.co/c5Bk7jM1V1
— Matt Lee (@APDiploWriter) April 10, 2016
The fire broke out at about 3:30 a.m. local time in the village of Paravoor, sending huge chunks of concrete flying as far as half a mile, the Indian Express reported.
The fire was caused when sparks from an unauthorized fireworks show that ignited a separate batch of fireworks being stored for a celebration of Vishu, a Hindu new year festival, according to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
An inquiry was opened up about the incident on Sunday where police were investigating why the fireworks had been there in the first place. Fireworks are banned in Kollam and permits for them had been denied for the festival, the Guardian reported.
“There was no permission to even store the fireworks,” stated Chandy.
According to our info, 100 people dead and 383 are admitted in different hospital: Oommen Chandy, Kerala CM after cabinet meeting #Kollam
— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2016
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who flew to Kerala with a team of doctors on Sunday, posted on Twitter that the fire is “heart-rending and shocking.”
Fire at temple in Kollam is heart-rending & shocking beyond words. My thoughts are with families of the deceased & prayers with the injured.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 10, 2016
PM Modi arrives in #Kollam to visit the victims of today's tragedy | https://t.co/tK2fNOHlVc pic.twitter.com/6Yno7zPm8F
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) April 10, 2016
Image: Twitter/ @cctvnews