PM Modi Visits Kollam Temple, Assures All Help to Injured

Kollam, Apr 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the Puttingal Devi temple in Peravur town to take stock of the situation in the wake of the fire tragedy at Puttingal Devi Temple near Kollam.At least 110 people were feared dead and over 350 injured in the accident.

After arriving in Thiruvananthapuram, Modi flew into Kollam where he was received by Chief Minister Oomen Chandy and several MPs. Immediately after reaching here, he went to medical college to see the injured people. Earlier, Chandy said he was thankful to the Prime Minister for coming to Kerala to share the grief. He said he was also grateful to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for visiting Kerala in this hour of grief.

Modi, who termed the incident as heart-rending and shocking, announced Rs two lakh each as compensation for the next of the kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 each for the injured. Earlier in the day, Modi talked to Chandy and conveyed Centre's readiness to extend all kind of help.

"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," the Prime Minister said in a tweet in the morning. Spoke to CM Oommen Chandy about the fire at a temple in Kollam. Arranging for immediate shifting of those critically injured via helicopter, he tweeted.

The PMO said Modi was constantly monitoring the situation and was in touch with officials. He had directed that no protocol formalities be observed on his arrival in Kerala as focus should remain on relief and rescue operations in Kollam.

Rs.10 lakh to families of dead in Kerala tragedy  

The Kerala government on Sunday ordered a judicial probe into a temple fire tragedy here and announced Rs.10 lakh compensation to families of each of the dead.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy announced after a special cabinet meeting here that the Crime Branch of Kerala Police would also investigate the disaster at the Puttingal Devi temple in Peravur town. Many of the injured are in critical condition.

Military begins rescue work in Kerala temple  

The army, navy and air force on Sunday joined rescue operations in a Kerala temple where a fire tragedy left some 100 people dead, officials said.
At least six helicopters, two aircraft, three naval ships and army medical teams were deployed, a defence ministry official said.
A Dornier utility aircraft, two Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and two Chetaks with medical teams were sent to the site from the Garuda naval air station at Kochi.
Four other utility helicopters, including Mi17 and ALH, were launched from Sulur air force station in Tamil Nadu.
Indian naval ships Kabra, Kalpeni and Sunayna sailed to Kollam with medical supplies, the official said.
"Medical assistance is being provided by the army in Kollam. Two medical teams rushed from Thiruvananthapuram. Military hospitals are kept ready to receive patients," the official added.
An illegal fireworks show in a Hindu temple in Kollam in Kerala early on Sunday set off a huge fire which left nearly 100 people dead and over 350 injured, many in critical condition.

A sad Sunday for country as it mourns Kerala temple tragedy

The country was on Sunday left shocked and saddened as it woke up to the massive temple tragedy in Kerala, with President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with other leaders and prominent personalities joining the people in mourning the loss of lives in the fire incident.

Fire at temple in Kollam is heartrending and shocking beyond words. My thoughts are with families of the deceased and prayers with the injured, Modi, who visited Kollam, said in a tweet. President Pranab Mukerjee also conveyed heartfelt condolences on loss of lives in Kerala temple fire. Praying for the departed souls and well being of the injured, Congress President Sonia Gandhi asked Kerala government to ensure ample and immediate relief measures while party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi decided to visit Kollam.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, BJP Chief Amit Shah, chief ministers, governors and leaders of various parties expressed grief over the tragedy. Very sad news from Kerala. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Prayers for those injured, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted.

Saddened by the Kerala temple fire tragedy. My heartfelt condolences to families of the deceased and prayers with those injured, her Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar said on Twitter. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said his thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. God be with them in this hour of darkness and despair, he tweeted.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad too expressed grief at the Kollam temple fire incident saying, heart goes out for the victims and families. Very sad to hear such tragic news. Prayers with all victims, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Bollywood too was shaken by the tragedy with filmmaker Shekhar Kapur appealing for control over fire works. People go to pray and celebrate life. Come away in wake of death and tragedy #fireworks getting dangerous and must must be controlled #Kollam. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan retweeted emergency helpline numbers following the tragedy. John Abraham said, Devastated knowing about the innocent lives lost at the #Kollam fire, my condolences to their families & prayers for all the injured! Actress Dia Mirza blamed the tragedy on negligence. When tragedies are struck by human apathy and negligence it makes it so much more painful...so many innocent lives lost. Gutted. #Kollam. Heart goes out to all who lost a loved one in #KollamTempleFire.. deepest condolences. Hope lessons will be learned re firework safety (sic), actor-director Farhan Akhtar said.

Agencies