Tragedy struck in the wee hours when a fireworks display in Kedah suddenly exploded on Deepavali (20 October).
As we’ve previously reported, total of 22 people were injured in the incident at Paya Besar around 12:45 AM, including one who suffered a serious head injury.
The fireworks were set up upside down
In a recent update, Sinar Harian reported that the explosion was believed to have been caused by a man who set up fireworks while under the influence of alcohol.
Kulim District Police Chief Superintendent Zulkifli Azizan said the incident happened in an open area near a row of shops, where the suspect and several friends had bought about RM200 worth of fireworks from a nearby stall.
He said the suspect had accidentally set up the fireworks upside down, causing debris to hit nearby members of the public.
“Initial investigations found that the suspect, who was intoxicated, had placed the fireworks into a roadside cylinder before one of his friends lit the fuse. However, the fireworks failed to launch and exploded on the ground, likely because they were set up upside down,” he said.
Both suspects have a history of criminal offenses
Zulkifli said the powerful explosion injured 22 people, including passersby, while one victim suffered a fractured skull and was rushed to Penang Hospital unconscious, according to Berita Harian.
The 74-year-old victim, R. Pasupathi, said he’s still shaken by the incident. The explosion happened about 50 metres from where he was standing, but the blast was so strong it knocked him down.
“I saw people losing their fingers, many were screaming, and children were crying. I broke my right arm and suffered deep wounds on several parts of my body,” he said.
R. Pasupathi
Zulkifli said a 22-second video of the incident that went viral on social media helped police track down and arrest both suspects in Taman Senangin and Paya Besar.
Both men, who have previous criminal records, were arrested for investigation under Section 8 of the Explosives Act 1957 and Section 326 of the Penal Code for causing serious injuries.
“The D10 Forensics Unit was sent to the scene to collect evidence, and statements have been taken from 10 victims. Police have also identified the fireworks seller involved and are working to locate them,” he said.
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Also read: 22 People Injured After Fireworks Explosion During Deepavali Celebration in Kedah
