The Kerala government will bear the medical expenses of the injured

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government on Wednesday decided to bear the medical expenses of people injured in a temple fire near Neeleswaram in Kasaragod district, which left 154 people injured, eight of them seriously.

The The incident took place late on Monday evening According to police, firecrackers stored nearby exploded at the Anjoottanbalam Veererkavu temple near Neeleswaram.

The decision to cover the medical expenses of those injured in the accident was taken at a cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a statement.

Three people, including two temple committee officials, were arrested in connection with the incident on Tuesday after a case was registered under the Explosive Substances Act and various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the cause of the fire.

Besides, the additional divisional magistrate has been directed to conduct a separate inquiry into the incident and submit a report.

According to the police, firecrackers were set off on the temple premises without permission and the accident occurred due to careless handling and negligence of the accused.

The incident took place when hundreds of people, including women and children, gathered to catch a glimpse of Theyyam’s performance at the temple.

Theyyam is a centuries-old ritual performance performed in temples and ‘kavus’ (sacred groves) in the Malabar region (Northern Kerala) of Kerala.