Attukal Pongala tragedy: Kozhikode woman succumbs to burn injuries

Kozhikode: A woman from Kozhikode, who sustained critical burns while participating in the Attukal Pongala festival in Thiruvananthapuram, passed away at a private hospital on Monday.

The deceased, identified as Vijisha from West Hill, had been undergoing treatment in this northern district after the accident. According to family sources, the incident occurred at Thampanoor, where she was preparing the traditional pongala offering in an earthen hearth situated in front of a hotel.

Reports indicate that Vijisha suffered injuries from a hearth positioned in the row behind her. She was initially rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram before being moved to a private facility in Kozhikode for specialised care.

Speaking to reporters, a relative of the deceased pointed towards a lack of safety protocols and oversight at the ritual site.

"The tragedy happened because of the negligence of the authorities. The hearths were arranged very closely to each other and people were not ready to make any change even if requested to keep a distance between each hearth. Even police personnel were reluctant to intervene," he alleged.

The relative further explained that the dense smoke in the area prevented onlookers from immediately noticing the fire, and claimed there were no nearby facilities to extinguish the flames.

Vijisha and her family had travelled to the capital on March 2, staying at a local hotel to participate in the world-renowned festival at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. The annual event is celebrated as one of the largest gatherings of women globally, attracting millions of devotees each year.

PTI