Neeleswaram temple tragedy claims second life: 32-year-old man succumbs to burn injuries

Tragic firework accident at Anjoottambalam Veerarkavu temple in Neeleswaram claims two lives, sparking police investigation.

A second fatality has been reported following the firework accident at the Anjoottambalam Veerarkavu temple in Nileswaram. Ratheesh, aged 32, succumbed to burn injuries while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Kozhikode. This brings the death toll from the October 29 incident to two.

The first victim, Sandeep, aged 38, who was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kannur, passed away on Saturday (November 2, 2024) evening. Both victims sustained severe burns when sparks from ignited fireworks fell into a storeroom containing firecrackers, triggering a large explosion that injured 154 people.

Following the incident, police registered a case against eight individuals, including the temple committee president and secretary, under sections of the Explosive Substances Act and BNS. A special investigation team led by Kanhangad DySP is handling the inquiry, with preliminary findings indicating that the fireworks were set off near the storage area without adequate safety precautions.