KOLLAM: A high-intensity explosion rocked the premises of the Kadakkal Police Station in Kollam after firecrackers buried seven years ago went off. A major tragedy was averted by a whisker as children who were playing near the spot moved away just moments before the blast.
Preliminary reports suggest that the explosives were part of a stock seized by the police during 2018 and 2019 for illegal sales. Instead of being scientifically neutralized, these crackers were buried in the station compound. It is suspected that the intense summer heat triggered the explosion of the buried materials.
The impact of the blast was so severe that the window panes of the Kadakkal Police Station and the nearby police quarters were shattered. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the children playing in the vicinity managed to run to safety in time. Authorities are now investigating whether there was a serious lapse in protocol regarding the disposal and neutralization of the seized explosives.
With input from KN.
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