Compiled by FAZLEENA AZIZ, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN
A COUPLE in India were killed after a massive fireworks explosion blew up at the family’s factory-cum-house in India, causing the building to collapse, according to Makkal Osai.
Jeyaraman, 40, and his wife ran a pyrotechnics manufacturing and distribution business. They and their three children lived above the factory.
On Ponggal day, witnesses reported seeing the three children playing with firecrackers outside their house before hearing a loud explosion.
When residents raced outside, they saw the upper level of the house collapse on the couple.
> A group of NGOs in Sungai Petani have lodged police reports over a contentious video about the Ponggal celebration, Malaysia Nanban reported.
The video, which showed a man celebrating the festival by making Ponggal in the bucket of a backhoe, had caused much grievance.
According to the complainants, the Malaysia Hindu Sangam should have educated him and the community on the real meaning of Ponggal and the ceremonies associated with it.
● The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ‘ >’sign, it denotes a separate news item.