PUTTINGAL TEMPLE FIRE.pptx

All about puttingal temple fire.

1. PUTTINGAL TEMPLE FIRE Paravoor, Kollam district, Kerala (10.04.2016) ‹#›

2. CONTENTS 1.Introduction 2.The Event/Disaster 2.1. Description of the event 2.2.Impact/Loss 2.3. Relief and Response 2.4. Aftermath 3.Lessons learnt 4.About the fireworks and explosives used in pyrotechnics 5.Police investigation 6.Objectives of memorandum 7.Conclusion 8.References ‹#›

3. INTRODUCTION The Puttingal Devi Temple at Paravoor was holding its annual festival which is popularly known as ‘Meena Bharani Ulsavam’. The festival of was scheduled from 04-04-2016 to 10-04-2016 with various stage programmes, procession and fireworks display. That year, the District Collector did not give permission to conduct fireworks competitions, yet the temple authorities went ahead with the contest. On the last day of the festival, on 10-04-2016 at around 3.13 am, a massive explosion occurred at the venue. Immediately after the disaster, rescue and relief operations were undertaken by the local people and the State Government to evacuate those injured to hospitals nearby. ‹#›

4. Timeline of incident Date Day Time Incident ………………………………………. 03.04.2016 Sunday - The annual festival of Paravoor commences 09.04.2016 Saturday - The final day of festivities 23:30 Fireworks at Puttingal Temple, Kollam begins 10.04.2016 Sunday 3:13 Firecrackers explodes off target and falls on store house of the cracker 10.04.2016 Sunday - Police Intervenes 10.04.2016 Sunday - Rescue operations begin 10.04.2016 Sunday 5.00 Event raised as L2. Support from all departments of the State requested 10.04.2016 Sunday 6.23 Event reported to NDRF HQ and NDMA Control Room 10.04.2016 Sunday 6:30 Fire at the temple brought under control 10.04.2016 Sunday 7.00 Event raised as L3. Support for medical care from national level responding forces requested via SEOC ‹#›

5. THE EVENT/DISASTER Description of the Event The fire tragedy occurred at Puttingal Devi temple during the celebration of the festival of Bharani Star. The incident occurred on the 10th of April in 2016, Sunday, around 3:00 am. More than 10,000 people were present in the temple premises during the fire tragedy due to the celebration of the festival. The tragedy was caused as a result of a cracker popularly known as ‘amittu’ (a spherical shaped cracker which goes up in the sky and bursts to show colourful sparks ending with a sound), accidentally falling into a fireworks stockpile towards the end of the show. It resulted in intermittent explosions that ripped through the concrete buildings and even ignited the temple in the fire. The fire spread in the entire premise rapidly. The locals reported that the blast could be felt at a distance of 1 kilometre away from the temple. As the gathered mass of spectators tried to flee from the explosions, incidents of stampede occurred. ‹#›

6. Impact/Loss Human loss Hospitalisation costs Houses damaged One hundred and seven (107) lives were lost in the disaster. Government declared Rs. 10 lakhs to the families of the bereaved (Rs. 4 lakhs from SDRF and remaining from CM’s Distress Relief Fund), Rs. 2 lakhs to severely injured and Rs. 50,000 to injured and all hospitals were instructed not to charge for treatments rendered to the victims. ‹#›

7. Agriculture Clearance of debris from affected area A rapid assessment of affected area indicates that debris and direct pollutants from the 3.43 km2 area needs to be contained and removed. This debris includes pollutants, concrete blocks, firecracker dust and toxic waste, the composition of which is still unknown. ‹#›

8. Wells The disaster site was visited by experts from State Pollution Control Board. As many as 200 open wells in the area have been contaminated or damaged in the disaster. Relief assistance for clothing & utensils A lot of people who visited the temple lost their belongings, clothes and utensils. Search and Rescue The services of Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy, National Disaster Response Force and Coast Guard were used by the State Government with the support of Ministry of Home Affairs. ‹#›

9. Drinking water supply The disaster struck the state in the peak of summer. As many as 15 tankers of 10,000 litres were being operated in the region to ensure safe drinking water. The costs are roughly ₹15,000/trip. Kerala State Electricity Board The entire power supply network of the area was damaged due to the disaster. A rough estimate shows that as many as 100 minor poles and two transformers were damaged in the event. ‹#›

10. RELIEF AND RESPONSE The emergency team, on reaching the spot, had to use bulldozers to clear the area to search for the survivors. A team of specialist doctors was sent from AIIMS, Delhi to assist in the local hospitals for the treatment of the burn victims. The rescue teams were reported to be reached late to the spot according to the local. ‹#›

11. AFTERMATH An immediate investigation was ordered. The High Court of India, after two days of the incident, banned the use of high-decibel firecrackers between sunset and sunrise across the nation. The police had booked the person responsible for storing the crackers and fireworks that was ten times more than the permissible limit. The temple officials, according to the Indian Express, were reported to be missing. ‹#›

12. LESSONS LEARNT The Puttingal Temple Fire Tragedy was caused only because of negligence and strong violations of fire safety norms and regulations. Lack of preparedness is another major reason. Following are the issues that caused this devastating incident: i) Violation of Safety Rules and Regulations : The temple authorities had gone ahead with the show, despite the denial of permission by the district administration for the fireworks display on safety grounds. (ii) No adherence to Fire Safety Measures : No proper arrangement such as fire tender, first aid facilities, zoning, evacuation plan for a large crowd was done before conducting such an event. The most dangerous part was different groups competing with one another and made the event a test of their financial muscle and firepower. Banned substances were freely used. iii) Enforcement of Laws : The district administration, with the help of the local police, could have taken action, but either they ignored the risks or were overcome by the popular interest. iv) Structural Irregularities : The temple and the surroundings were not disaster-proof which resulted in death of many people from heavy concrete debris that fell on them because the fireworks ignited a warehouse of explosives. Demarcation of the space where the firecracker display was to take place was done without much thought about the fire risk and adherence to norms of NBC and PESO. ‹#›

13. The Kerala Fire and Rescue Services had not given clearance for the fireworks display at the Puttingal Devi Temple on the fateful day. It was denied due to insufficient space as the temple area was occupied by makeshift shops, stage and the crowd that throngs the venue . The DM and ADM too had denied permission for the pyrotechnics at site on a petition filed by senior citizen Pankajakshyamma who lives in the vicinity of temple. The ADM issued an order banning pyrotechnics after information that the temple committee was planning competitive pyrotechnic display which posed threat to the lives and property of people in the area as it had about 11 houses. But the temple committee had the backing of local politicians who put pressure on police to enable the organizers to go ahead with fireworks. They have also not followed the 100 meter safe distance. As per rules, there should not be any school, hospital or houses within 100m of the radius of fireworks display; this law was breached as well. ‹#›

14. ABOUT THE FIREWORKS AND EXPLOSIVES USED IN PYROTECHNICS Firecracker (cracker, noise maker, banger, or bunger) is a small explosive device primarily designed to produce a large amount of noise, especially in the form of a loud bang; any visual effect is incidental to this goal. They have fuses, and are wrapped in a heavy paper casing to contain the explosive compound. They are generally made of cardboard or plastic, with flash powder or black powder as the propellant. The key to loud firecrackers, however, although in part lying in the propellant substance, is pressure.The entire firecracker must be very tightly packed in order for it to work best. Gunpowder, also known as black powder is a granular mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). The sulfur and charcoal act as fuels, and the saltpeter is an oxidizer. Sulfur also lowers the temperature required to ignite the mixture, thereby increasing the rate of combustion. Because of its burning properties and the amount of heat and gas volume that it generates, gunpowder has been widely used as a propellant in firearms and as a pyrotechnic composition in fireworks. Potassium nitrate (KNO3) is the most important ingredient in terms of both bulk and function because the combustion process releases oxygen from the potassium nitrate (but Potassium chlorate is banned in India for use in fire crackers as it is highly reactive chemical and very sensitive to friction when mixed with sulphur), promoting the rapid burning of the other ingredients. To reduce the likelihood of accidental ignition by static electricity, the granules of modern black powder are typically coated with graphite, which prevents the build-up of electrostatic charge.Gunpowder is classified as a low explosive because of its relatively slow decomposition rate and consequently low brisance. Low explosives deflagrate at subsonic speeds, whereas high explosives detonate, producing a supersonic wave. Gunpowder burning rate increases with pressure, so it will burst containers but just burns in the open. Ignition of the powder packed behind a bullet must generate enough pressure to force it from the muzzle at high speed, but not enough to rupture the gun barrel. But high explosives (nitro-explosives) use alternatives such as ammonium nitrate/fuel oil (ANFO). ‹#›

15. POLICE INVESTIGATION A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court had granted permission to the Crime Branch to go ahead with the enquiry into Puttingal temple Tragedy & asked the investigation team to submit a report on the progress made in the investigation on 18 May 2016. The Crime branch CID took over the investigation from the Paravur police and registered cases under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 of the Explosives Act (unlawfully and maliciously causing explosion that endanger life and property). They have also violated the Supreme Court’s direction that fireworks must not be used beyond 10pm. Five persons from Devaswom Committee have been arrested by Crime branch with assistance from local police. A case has been registered against a father son duo, who had organized the fireworks display and illegally stored about 150 kg of crackers at the storehouse. Police seized 3 cars laden with explosives about 500m away from the shrine. ‹#›

16. Details of cases registered : i. Crime No. 711/16, U/S 323, 326, 308, 427, 304, 188 r/w 34 & Sec IV of Explosive substances Act Brief of the case: Due to the tragic incident around 98 persons were dead and more than 380 persons were injured and taken to different hospitals for treatment. ii. Crime No. 713/16, U/S 9(B) (I) b of Explosive Act 1884 Brief of the Case: Three deserted vehicles were seen and when searched vehicles were filled with explosive items for using in Firework and vehicle taken in custody and above case registered. Director General Kerala Fire and Rescue Services, visited the site along with senior officials to assess the situation. A preliminary investigation of Fire and rescue Services revealed that banned chemicals were used for the pyrotechnics (for loud crackers). ‹#›

17. OBJECTIVES OF MEMORANDUM The Tenth Finance Commission held the view that ‘if a calamity of rare severity occurs, it should be dealt with as a national calamity, requiring additional assistance and support from the Centre, beyond what is envisaged under the CRF scheme’. It was submitted to seek special grant from Government of India for rehabilitation of families of those who died and got injured. It was intended to consider this disaster as rarest of rare incidents. The affected community required prolonged medical treatment and psycho-social care. The State Government requested Government of India to consider the Puttingal Temple Fire Cracker Explosion as a ‘National Calamity’ of rare severity requiring additional assistance and support from Government of India, beyond what is envisaged under the CRF scheme. ‹#›

18. CONCLUSION The ‘foreman’s certificate’ is issued by the Controller of Explosive to a person who is conversant with safe manufacture, storage, transportation,handling of explosives. The basic chemistry of explosives and professional training on firecracker management is essential to enable a person engaging with public display of fireworks. Individuals holding foreman’s certificate have not undergone any kind of professional training or certification; rather they learned the manufacturing and usage from their predecessors or traditional groups. Hence, professional training and certification has to be brought in to make the sector safe and scientific. The incident raises a question on risk regulatory mechanisms and compliance. Event organizers and regional community pressure channelized the risk accumulation to the unlicensed firework event. The disaster struck is a clear example of the lack of enforcement of existing regulations or festival mismanagement that disturbs the safety concerns of a community with the power of religious sentiments. The traditions and culture imposing potential risk on the community need to be revisited on safety facet. Enforcement agencies can utilize community involvement and public intelligence to overcome the demands. Public and event organizers need to be sensitized about the safety regulations and impacts of fireworks. Above all, stringent enforcement and compliance of enacted rule of law is of prime importance to have safe firework events and to make public gatherings safe. ‹#›

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21. REFERENCES Parkash, Surya. (2016). Brief Report on Reconnaissance Study of Puttingal Temple Fire Incident (Sunday, 10 April 2016), Paravur, Kollam District, Kerala State. 10.13140/RG.2.1.1782.4249. “Bandyopadhyay, C., & Manna, M. (2020). Fires in India: Learning Lessons for Urban Safety. New Delhi - 110001: National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM); Ministry of Home Affairs Illiyas FT, Mani SK. Routine to Rare Risk – A Case Study of Firecracker Explosion Disaster in India. PLOS Currents Disasters. 2018 Sep 27 . Edition 1. doi: 10.1371/currents.dis.d5a27e47c8decbd4263813a15c47e07e. Sdma.kerala.gov.in. 2018. [online] Available at: <https://sdma.kerala.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1.Memorandum-Puttingal-Temple-2016.pdf> [Accessed 24 January 2022]. ‹#›

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