106 dead in Kerala temple mishap; 5 detained

This happened during a display of fireworks at the Puttingal Devi temple for which there was no permission from the authorities; Centre orders probe

Five people have been detailed in a firecracker accident case at the Paravur Puttingal temple in Kollam district, Kerala, in which at least 106 people were killed and 383 injured.

A case has also been filed against the fireworks contractor, as the crime branch takes over the investigation.

The explosion occurred as crackers and explosives kept in a storage house caught fire after a live cracker fell on the pile. The tremors of the loud explosion that followed were reportedly felt up to one-a-and-half km away. A large portion of the crackers were used before the explosion. Otherwise, more might have been killed.

According to reports, Rs 8.4 lakh worth of crackers were ordered for a fireworks display at the temple, which is a competition between people from two areas in the region. The fireworks were in violation of the orders of the district authorities, reports said.

The injured were taken to the Kollam district hospital, Thiruvananthapuram medical college, and other private hospitals.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and other ministers rushed to the spot. Later, after a special Cabinet meeting, Chandy announced a judicial probe under a retired judge as well as a Crime Branch investigation. He also announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia relief to the families of those killed, a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to those with serious injuries, and Rs 50,000 to those with minor injuries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the accident site along with Chandy and Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, later met the injured in the hospitals. He announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 to the injured. The state government said it would take care of the treatment of those injured. The armed forces pitched in with helicopters, aircraft, ships and medical teams.
 

 

One team of the National Disaster Response Force comprising 50 personnel including doctors, pharmacists and nursing staff have left for Kollam, said officials. A team of senior doctors and specialists with expertise in handling burn injuries from the All India Institute of Medical Science, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital have been flown in from Delhi, said Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, who also visited the injured in the hospitals.

Businessman M A Yousuf Ali said he would provide Rs 1 lakh to families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.