A firecracker explosion during a festival in southern India’s Kerala injured over 150 people, with eight in critical condition.

The incident took place at the Anjuthambalam Veerarakkavu Temple, at Nileshwaram in Kasaragod district on October 29.

Visuals showed inside the temple and in the surrounding area, firecrackers went off, suddenly escalating into a massive explosion. A large crowd had gathered for the festival, and as soon as the blast occurred, chaos broke out. People were scrambling in all directions, some trying to shield their loved ones, while others rushed toward the exits. Smoke filled the air, with flames flickering from the blast site.

According to reports, the incident took place during the temple’s annual Kaliyattam festival, which had drawn nearly 1,500 devotees. The explosion was triggered when a spark from the ongoing fireworks ignited firecrackers stored on the premises, leading to a massive blast.

Police reported that over 150 people sustained injuries, with eight individuals in critical condition. These critically injured victims have been admitted to various hospitals, including Pariyaram Medical College, and other facilities in Mangalore, Kannur, and Kasaragod. Authorities, including the district police chief and local officials, arrived on the scene promptly to oversee rescue operations.

Local CPI-M legislator M. Rajagopal expressed his dismay over the incident, calling it extremely unfortunate, and spoke with the district collector to further investigate the causes. Kasaragod MP Rajmohan Unnithan also extended his support and well-wishes to the injured.

According to initial reports, the temple committee had not obtained a license for the fireworks display. Subsequently, the police detained two members of the temple committee for questioning. An injured woman recounted the panic that ensued as people scrambled to escape the site following the explosion.