Russian nightclub explosion kills 102 - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

A fire and explosion that broke out in a nightclub in the Russian city of Perm during the early hours of Saturday killed over 102 and injured 134. "As of now, there are 102 dead and 134 injured," a government spokesman was quoted, as saying. Two airplanes, equipped to transport people with burns and staffed with doctors, psychologists and rescuers, flew from Moscow to Perm early on Saturday. Claiming that the mishap was caused by fireworks rocket gone wrong, police officials ruled out any terrorist hand behind the incident. "The accident was due to a violation of instructions when launching fireworks. There is no chance it was a terrorist act, I can say that 100 percent," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted investigative committee's spokesman Vladimir Markin, as saying. "There were fireworks launched at the scene, and one hit the plastic ceiling, setting all ablaze. People panicked and succumbed to burns, general crush and gas poisoning," the Perm region's public security minister Igor Orlov was quoted as saying. So-called "cold fireworks", which give off less smoke and heat and so can be used indoors, were apparently the conflagration's cause, as they require careful planning and expert use, investigators said.