Kollam temple fire: Black Sunday for Kerala as 106 killed
As the temple festival was going on, fireworks display had commenced at the temple precincts since midnight and about one thousand people had gathered to take part in the celebrations and watch the show, which met a tragic end. As the fireworks and pyrotechnics display was coming to a close at 3am, an explosion is suspected to have occurred at the storeroom ‘Kambapuram’ filled with fire crackers and pyrotechnics materials, the police said.
Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy has cancelled his all programmes and rushed to the spot. Injured people have been rushed to Trivandrum Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram. Officials said over 10,000 people were present at a ground next to the temple to watch fireworks during a festival when the fire started a little after 3 am. According to sources, people were trapped by the flames when a spark during the fireworks display ignited a separate batch of firecrackers stored in preparation for the New Year festival of Vishu on Thursday. The fireworks erupted in a big explosion. Huge flames engulfed the building within minutes, trapping devotees within the temple in the coastal city 60 km from Thiruvananthapuram. Sources say officials are investigating whether “competitive fireworks” were the reason behind the massive tragedy. It is not clear whether the temple had permission for fireworks through the night as part of their rituals. The fire, which has damaged the roof of the temple, is believed to have been brought under control.
Compensation for victims: The prime minister also said that he spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and is arranging for immediate shift of those critically injured via helicopter. “Have also asked my Cabinet colleague & Health Minister JP Nadda to immediately reach the site of the fire tragedy in Kollam,” he added. Rs2 lakh compensation for families of the deceased and Rs50,00 for the injured have been announced. The injured were taken to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College hospital and Kollam district hospital. The hospitals were overwhelmed by the inflow of victims as they were short-staffed to handle situation on Sunday. The Kerala government with the support of Indian Air Force has arranged to airlift victims who have sustained 3rd degree burn injuries to hospitals in other cities.
LIVE UPDATES…
12.22 pm: Indian Navy’s dornier aircraft has arrived in Kollam
12.05 pm: BJP chief Amit Shah arrived in Thiruvananthapuram and visited the injured at the medical hospital. He also announced the government’s compensation package that PM Modi had tweeted about earlier.
12.00 noon: The Kerala government has ordered a judicial probe into the fire incident, saying anyone found injured will not be spared. 11.25 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left for Kerala
11.12 am: The death toll has increased to 105, over 300 are injured
10. 52 am: Manorama News reports that the fireworks contractor is also dead. He is reportedly a resident of Kazhakootam in Thiruvananthapuram district.
10.50 am: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi offered his condolences: “News of the devastating fire at Puttingal temple in Kollam, Kerala is extremely shocking. My prayers are with the families of those who’ve lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy. Spoke to CM Oommen Chandyji to ensure that adequate relief, medical care and assistance is being provided to the injured at the earliest.”
10.40 am: The Navy, too, is providing all possible assistance. INS Kabra and INS Kalpeni, with medical stores, will sail to Kollam shortly. INS Sunayna will also arrive later. One additional Dornier and two Chetaks are also being pressed in by the Navy.
10.36 am: The IAF choppers – that have been pressed into service – have been requisitioned by the state government, and will be operating from Trivandrum. One Dornier and two ALH are being sent from Garuda Naval air base, Kochi along with medical teams.
10.30 am: A ten-member team from Karnataka will leave for Kollam with paramedics, doctors and medicines. Karnataka health minister has said that they have asked the team to purchase medicines directly and that the government will will foot the bill.
Kerala temple fire : PM rushing to the spot, announces ex-gratia relief to bereaved and injured
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness and shock over the fire tragedy which happened at a temple in Kollam district of Kerala today early morning. Shri Modi will be rushing to Kerala to take stock of the situation arising due to the unfortunate incident.
" Fire at temple in Kollam is heart-rending and shocking beyond words. My thoughts are with families of the deceased and prayers with the injured.
Spoke to CM Oommen Chandy about the fire at a temple in Kollam. Arranging for immediate shifting of those critically injured via helicopter.
Have also asked my Cabinet colleague and Health Minister JPNadda to immediately reach the site of the fire tragedy in Kollam.
I will be reaching Kerala soon to take stock of the situation arising due to the unfortunate fire tragedy in Kollam", the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets.
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the fire in Kollam. The PM also announced a solatium of Rs. 50, 000 to those who are injured in the fire.
The Prime Minister is constantly monitoring the situation and is in touch with officials. PM has asked airforce and navy to assist in making arrangements for immediate shifting of critically injured via helicopter. PM will be travelling to Kerala soon and has directed that no protocol formalities be observed on his arrival in Kerala and focus remains on relief and rescue operations. A team of doctors including burn specialists will accompany PM to Kerala.
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