Indian temple fire kills nearly 80, triggered by fireworks display

A huge fire swept through a temple in India's southern Kerala state early on Sunday (April 10), killing nearly 80 people and injuring over 200 gathered for a fireworks display to mark the start of the local Hindu new year. Thousands of people had packed into the Puttingal Devi temple and the narrow lanes around it. The fireworks display began at midnight and went on for hours. One of the crackers then fell on a shed where the fireworks were stored, setting off an explosion and the fire, local television reported.  The explosion was so strong that some parts of the temple roof caved in. Local media showed bulldozers trying to clear the area of the debris. Kerala's Chief Minister Oomen Chandy said 79 people were dead, while many were trapped by flames in the temple building and 245 were injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he would be flying to the temple site later on Sunday. The state interior minister said all was being done to help the victims and their relatives.