The Puttingal Temple, which has been in the news due to a major firework related accident, is located in which of the following Indian states?

Introduction / Context:
Religious sites and temples sometimes enter current affairs due to festivals, accidents or legal issues, after which they become common topics in general knowledge questions. Puttingal Temple became widely known following a tragic firework accident during a festival. This question tests whether students can associate Puttingal Temple with the correct Indian state.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The temple name is Puttingal Temple. • Options list Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala. • The question is based on a high profile incident that featured in national news. • We assume up to date knowledge of the temple location.

Concept / Approach:
Puttingal Devi Temple is located at Paravur in Kollam district of Kerala. The firework accident associated with this temple occurred during a festival celebration and led to many casualties, after which various competitive exam questions asked where the temple is located. Therefore, the approach is to recall that this incident took place in Kerala and not in the other listed states.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remember media coverage of a large fire at Puttingal Devi Temple in Kollam district. Step 2: Note that Kollam is a coastal district in the southern state of Kerala. Step 3: Among the options, Kerala is the only state that contains Kollam and the temple site. Step 4: Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have many temples but none of these states is connected in news reports to the Puttingal Temple fire incident. Step 5: Conclude that Kerala is the correct state in which Puttingal Temple is located.

Verification / Alternative check:
If we review general knowledge current affairs compilations from the year of the accident, Puttingal Temple is consistently described as being in Kollam district of Kerala. This description has remained unchanged in exam questions that refer back to the incident, confirming Kerala as the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: Tamil Nadu has many famous temples such as those in Madurai, Rameswaram and Kanchipuram, but Puttingal Temple is not located there. Option B: Bihar is in eastern India and is associated with sites like Bodh Gaya, not with Kollam or Puttingal Temple. Option C: Uttar Pradesh is in the northern plains and is known for temples in Varanasi and Ayodhya but Puttingal Temple is not one of these.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the locations of different temple accidents or festivals, especially if they only remember that a tragic event happened in a southern state. To avoid confusion, it is helpful to link the temple name Puttingal specifically with Kollam in Kerala and separate it mentally from incidents in Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh.

Final Answer:
Puttingal Temple is located in the state of Kerala.