MALAPPURAM: A low-intensity, yet high decibel explosive went off at Potoor Lord Ayyappa temple, near Edapal, injuring one person, here on Tuesday.
According to Ponnani police, the explosion took place at around 3 am in the storeroom of the temple.
The deafening blast reduced the room to a heap of rubble. Shinoj Keshavan, 39, a percussion artist of Ottapalam, who sustained minor injuries was admitted to a private hospital. The police said a tragedy was averted as the explosion took place in the night.
The investigation team revealed that the gunpowder stored in the room went off by accident. It added that the temple authorities did not possess a licence to keep gunpowder.
Teams of scientific experts, fingerprint officers, explosion and dog squads searched the place. The police brushed aside doubts that it could be a planned attack and said it was purely an accident.
Preparations for the annual festival were on at the temple and the gunpowder was kept at the storeroom for the fireworks show on the concluding day.
“We have recovered around 3.5 kg of burnt-out gunpowder from the temple storeroom where the explosion took place. This indicates that it is an accident,” said Ponnani CI.