KOLLAM: The crime branch has submitted the charge sheet in the Puttingal fireworks tragedy. 52 people have been named as accused including the firework contractors and temple organisers. The charge sheet was submitted in Kollam Paravoor Court. The charge sheet has mentioned that even after knowing that there are chances for an accident more gunpowder was collected.

The Puttingal fireworks tragedy happened on April 10 in 2016. The investigation report produced now has given clean chit to the officers.

The festival organisers and the fireworks contractors are responsible for the disaster. They knew exactly what would happen if they stored so much gunpowder. Still storing so much is a big offence. The officials had verbally and in written document had asked them not to conduct such big fireworks. However, neither the temple organisers nor the fireworks organisers were willing to follow this and this is why such a major accident happened, the crime branch said.

P S Sabu, the investigating official in charge of the crime branch team and present Alappuzha SP submitted the charge sheet at the Paravoor Court this morning. The judicial commission had earlier reported lapses from the side of the officials. However their findings have not been mentioned in the charge sheet of the crime branch. The charge sheet submitted by the crime branch has given clean chit to all the officials.