An elderly woman was seriously injured and six others suffered minor injuries after a cracker misfired and landed amid the crowd during a festival at the Sri Kurumbakavu Temple at Kunjattukara near Pookkattupadi on Tuesday around 8.30 p.m.

Janu, 50, of Ambunadu, Pookkattupadi, sustained injuries to her head, face, and abdomen. The person in charge of handling the explosives and members of the temple committee were booked by the Edathala police on Wednesday.

One of the rockets arranged as part of the fireworks and supposed to explode in the sky, instead, veered off the course, flew into the crowd, and exploded. The injured woman was rushed to a private hospital in Kochi. The fireworks display was halted following the incident, said the police.

The police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 288 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substances) and 125 (an act that endangers human life), and the Indian Explosives Act Section 9(B)(1)(b) (possessing, using, selling, or transporting explosives in violation of license conditions).

The police have asked the licensee for fireworks to produce documents permitting the storage and use of explosives during the festival. Members of the temple committee are also likely to be questioned to ascertain any potential violations in handling the fireworks.