Panel probing Thrissur fireworks tragedy hails Cochin Devaswom Board decision

Thrissur: Justice C N Ramachandran Nair, who was appointed to head the commission to probe the fireworks tragedy at Mundathikode, Thrissur, has hailed the decision of Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB) to make fireworks more visually impressive and less noisy.“It is a highly welcome initiative, a novel idea, I fully support it. In fact, the commission has also been thinking along those lines. High decibel sounds are by themselves a pollution, and it is the element used for enhancing the noise yields from fireworks, which mostly lead to accidents. The shifts from sound-generating fireworks displays to visual displays are happening in different countries,” Justice Nair said.He however, conceded that the work of the commission has not proceeded much. “The high court has taken a suo motu case in the accident. I am waiting for the decision of the court. Also, it is important to know what the submission of the state govt in the case would be. The court has already issued notices to the govt and devaswoms,” he said.Meanwhile, CDB has convened a meeting of the representatives of different temples under it on Monday to discuss the possibilities of mitigating fireworks-related accidents by giving more emphasis on visual aspects rather than sound.