Seven Injured in Firework Mishap at Puttur Temple Festival

Seven individuals sustained injuries during a firework display at the annual fair of the Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple in Puttur, Dakshina Kannada. The incident occurred around midnight on Friday, April 17, 2026, when sparks and burning debris from the fireworks fell on spectators. Among the injured was Sumant Shetty, a 20-year-old engineering student, who filed a complaint against the temple management committee and the firework demonstrators for failing to take adequate safety precautions. Shetty and his friends were standing approximately 150 meters away from the storage site of the crackers when the accident happened. The victims, including Bharath, Koushik, Sowmya, Deepak, Yashavanth, and Mohan, were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, with Shetty being transferred to a facility in Mangaluru. In response to the complaint, the Puttur Town Police registered a case on Saturday, April 18, under Sections 288 and 125(a), read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Authorities are currently investigating the matter to determine liability and ensure accountability for the lack of safety measures during the religious celebration.