Kerala High Court allows low-decibel fireworks in Pooram festival

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday allowed low-decibel fireworks display during the ongoing Pooram festival in Thrissur.

The court exempted it from the ban imposed in the wake of Kollam Puttingal temple tragedy.

No unauthorised chemicals should be used in the fireworks and the sound level should not exceed 125 decibel, a division bench comprising Justices Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice Anu Sivaraman said in the order.

The bench was hearing a plea by the private Paramekkavu and Thirvambadi Devaswoms, which fund the annual Pooram festival in the premises of the famous Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur, for permission to hold fireworks display.  The festival is currently on and will culminate on April 18.

While sustained exposure to decibel level below 125 may result in hearing loss, after 125 it may cause pain.

 The High Court on Tuesday had banned high-decibel fireworks after sunset in places of worship across Kerala after the Puttingal tragedy.

The division bench's order came after the organising committee of the Pooram festival cited a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that gave exemption to holding of fireworks display as part of its culture and traditions.

Meanwhile, with a 40-year-old man succumbing to injuries at a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram today, the toll in the temple firework tragedy in Kollam rose to 114.

Sthayan, who was undergoing treatment at the hospital after suffering 50 per cent burns, died this morning, hospital sources said, as per PTI.

He belonged to Edayad at Paravoor in Kollam.

More then 300 persons were still undergoing treatment at hospitals in Thiruvananhpuram and Kollam for the injuries they sustained in the April 10 tragedy, the sources said.

Over 100 people were killed in the fireworks mishap at the Puttingal temple on Sunday.

(With PTI inputs)