Additional District Magistrate G. Nirmal Kumar has denied permission for fireworks display in connection with Kollam Pooram, the last day of the annual festival of the Asramam Sri Krishna Swamy temple.

The decision was based on reports from the District Police Chief (Kollam City), tehsildar, and the District Fire Officer. As per reports, it is not possible to establish a magazine as per Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) regulations for storing explosives at that location. Additionally, the decision was made considering the public’s safety, failure to submit the public liability insurance, risk assessment plan, on-site emergency plan, related certificates, and detailed information about the explosives.

Severity of accidents

The decision also takes into account the severity of accidents that have occurred in the district in the past due to fireworks displays conducted without proper and planned preparations and safety precautions. Secretary Anil Kumar, on behalf of the temple advisory committee, had submitted an application to conduct the fireworks display from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m on Pooram day.

The Asramam ground, where the Kollam Pooram is held, is located in the heart of the city and is a densely populated area with flats and other residential areas. Tens of thousands of people gather to watch the Pooram and for related commercial activities, resulting in overcrowding. Moreover, the presence of around 30 elephants, vehicle parking, and traffic congestion would make it difficult to move vehicles and evacuate people in case of any emergency. Furthermore, electricity lines run along all four sides of the ground, and transformers are also located there. Since the Asramam ground is poramboke land, it is not possible to establish a magazine for storing firecrackers.

Proximity of hospitals

The report submitted also points out that the proximity of several hospitals, including District Ayurvedic hospital, within a 500-metre radius of the ground, would cause significant distress to bedridden patients. The decision to deny permission was issued considering the impracticality of safely conducting fireworks in this area with a large crowd and to prevent accidents like the one happened in Malanada in 1990 and the Putttingal Devi temple in 2016, which resulted in numerous fatalities.