Panel suggestions to prevent firework tragedies that collect dust

KOCHI: Justice PS Gopinathan, who investigated Tragedy with puttingingal fireworks presented a detailed report in 2019 recommending a series of strict measures to prevent such disasters in the future.

The commission’s findings and recommendations take on significance following recurring fireworks tragedies, the most recent being the accident at a temple in Kasaragod earlier this week.

The commission recommended shifting the focus of fireworks from sound to light and color, as is done in developed countries and international events such as the Olympics, a ban on fireworks exceeding 85 decibels, restrictions on nighttime displays, and strict safety requirements space for fireworks sites.

Yet years later, these crucial recommendations lie dormant, ignored by the systems they were supposed to guide. Justice PS Gopinathan said TNIE“Although we submitted a detailed report addressing all aspects to prevent such tragedies in the future, nothing happened. Nobody is concerned about that. The bureaucracy is least concerned about the welfare of the public and they sit in an ivory tower.”

In his report, Justice Gopinathan suggested that the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) of all districts should identify and appoint a nodal officer not below the rank of junior superintendent or deputy tahasildar for each festival to act as a focal point main contact for , and coordination between different statutory agencies.

The DDMA should investigate all religious institutions in the respective district that conduct festivals or other events that attract mass gatherings. Once such events are identified, multi-level coordination between all stakeholders must be carried out to safely and effectively manage the event.