Kollam Temple Fire Leaves at least 102 Dead and Nearly 400 Injured
102 killed in Kollam temple fire; PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh each as compensation for next of kin of the dead.
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- 102 dead and at least 383 injured. Death toll likely to rise.
- One man has been booked for storing fireworks ten times over the permitted limit. No arrests made so far.
- Kerala Fire - Emergency numbers: 0474-2512344, 9497930863, 9497960778.
- Local media reports said the temple authorities ignored warnings issued against holding a huge firework display in the area.
- Case registered against temple authorities and explosive licensees under section 307 (Attempt to murder), and 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide) of IPC and under section 4 of Explosives Substances Act.
- Police, disaster management teams and fire brigade are on the spot for rescue work in the Kollam fire tragedy. Rescue operations by the Air Force are also underway.
President Expresses Grief over Temple Tragedy
President Pranab Mukherjee expressed his condolences over the loss of lives in the Kerala temple blaze. In a message to Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam, the president said
Karnataka to send doctors to treat Kollam fire victims
Karnataka plans to send a 10-member medical team to treat victims of the temple fireworks tragedy in Kerala, Health Minister U.T. Khader said on Sunday.
As the news of tragedy reached here, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed Khader to send the medical team to Kerala.
Watch PM Modi’s message after his visit to Kollam:
Former cricketer and current member of BJP, Sreeshanth arrived at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.
One Booked for Allegedly Storing Fireworks Ten Times More than the Permit
One person, who had allegedly stored crackers and fireworks ten times more than the permit, was booked by police on Sunday, in connection with the Puttingal Devi Temple fire tragedy in Kollam.
Attingal police said they have registered a case against the licensee, Surendran, who had stored about 150 kgs of crackers and fireworks material at the storehouse without valid permission, when he had the licence to store only about 15 kg, police said.
Meanwhile, forensic experts, police and fireforce took evidence from the accident spot.
Congress Vice President, Rahul Gandhi arrives in Kollam.
Bollywood celebrities joined in on the mourning for the loss of lives in the major fire that broke out in Puttingal Devi Temple complex near Kollam in Kerala, killing 102 people and injuring over 280.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Puttingal temple to conduct an on-spot analysis of the incident.
The Prime Minister spent around 10 minutes at the spot.
Later talking to reporters, Chennithala said the Prime minister had enquired about the unidentified bodies and said DNA tests should be done if necessary.
Chandy informed him that government had already taken steps in this regard.
Chennithala said the PM also enquired about the compensation to be given to those affected.
The Prime Minister later visited the Kollam district hospital to see the injured people.
PM Arrives in Kollam
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Kollam to take stock of the situation. He met Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy upon his arrival.
Kerala CM Announces Compensation of 10 Lakh for the Kin of the Dead, Free Treatment for the Injured
Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy said:
He also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakhs for the kin of the those who were killed in the accident, and free treatment for the injured.
Conflicting Versions on Nod of Firework Display, Incident to be Treated as Criminal Act
Conflicting versions are emerging on whether permission had been granted or not, for the conduct of fireworks display at the 100-year-old Puttingal Devi temple complex.
While the office of Kollam District collector A Shainamol’s office told PTI that no permission was granted to conduct the fireworks display, local people claimed the ban was lifted later in the night.
The locals in the area told PTI that late at night, the ban was lifted following a ‘mutual agreement’.
However, Kollam City Police commissioner P Prakash, said police did not give permission for the display of fireworks.
Fireforce DGP Loknath Behara said “the incident will be treated as a criminal act.”
A special team from Fireforce will also probe the incident, said Behara, who visited the spot.
PM Arrives in Thiruvananthapuram, IVC Ship Reaches Kollam with Supplies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Thiruvananthapuram. Upon his arrival he is met by Pon Radhakrishnan and Governor of Kerala P Sathasivam, after which he boards an IAF chopper and departs for Kollam.
Indian Coast Guard Ship C-427 loaded with medical team arrives in Kollam.
Crime Branch to Enquire into Fire Breakout Incident
The Kerala cabinet meeting ends. The crime branch will be enquiring into the incident of the fire breakout.
Controller of Explosives Reaches Site: Nirmala Sitharaman
Union Minister of State, Commerce and Industry, Nirmala Sitharaman said:
Kerala Cabinet Meeting Begins
Kerala cabinet ministers begin their meeting to discuss the tragic incident of the temple fire that claimed 102 lives. The meeting has been convened by Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy.
Two More IAF Helicopters Dispatched from Karnataka
Two more Indian Air Force helicopters have been dispatched from Yelahanka in Karnataka for Kollam in Kerala.
Pakistan Government Expresses its Commiserations on the Incident
Pakistan government expressed its condolences on the tragic incident.
What Started the Fire
According to TNM reports, just a few minutes before the fireworks display was to end, one of the fireworks, called “amittu”, which was supposed to explode in the air and fizzle out, fell on the ground, and the sparks flew around causing a fire.
This fire then spread to 12 huge “amittus” which were kept nearby, on the shed made of concrete.
When those 12 fireworks caught fire, there was a huge explosion, which could be heard hundreds of metres away.
As soon as the explosion happened, people panicked and did not know what to do. Even as people started trying to control the fire and rescue the injured, the shed on which the explosives were kept collapsed.
This collapse of concrete on people after the explosion, worsened the tragedy.
According to CNN IBN reports, several rules were flouted which led to the accident.
- Devotees were allowed too close to the fireworks.
- Locals’ complaints against fireworks were not taken seriously.
- The stipulated distance of 100 metres between the lit fireworks and the godown where the fireworks were kept, was not maintained.
Fully Equipped to Treat the Injured: Oomen Chandy
Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy has arrived in Kollam at the site of Puttingal temple fire.
On being asked if a judicial probe will be conducted into the temple fire tragedy, he said:
IAF Helicopters Arrive at Site of Incident, Two NDRF Teams to Arrive Soon
Four IAF helicopters have reached Trivandrum to help in the rescue and relief operations. Two AN32 aircrafts will take two teams of NDRF from Arakkonam to the site.
Amit Shah Arrives at Kollam, Extends Condolences
BJP Chief Amit Shah has arrived in Kollam. He visited the hospital to meet the injured.
According to The News Minute, in a document dated 1 March, the ADM had denied permission for the annual ‘competitive fireworks’ in which two temple priests attempt to outdo each other with the kind of fireworks they have in their kitty.
Death Toll Rises to 102
According to media reports, the death toll has risen to 102.
Case Registered Against Temple Authorities
Police sources said a case has been registered against temple authorities and explosive licencees under section 307 (Attempt to murder), and 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide) of IPC and under section 4 of Explosives Substances Act.
This spot visual shows unexploded firecrackers at the site of the tragedy:
Burn Specialists and PM Modi to Arrive Shortly
According to ANI, a team of burn specialist doctors from AIIMS,RML and Safdarjung hospitals are also travelling with PM Modi to Kerala. PM will land directly in Kollam. He has instructed that no official welcome protocols be followed on his arrival.
Rahul Gandhi to Visit the Temple, Naval Vessels to Sail with Medical Supplies
Congress Vice President, Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Puttingal temple on Sunday to meet the injured.
Naval vessels INS Kabra and INS Kalpeni are sailing to Kollam, Kerala shortly with medical supplies.
INS Sunayna also sailing a little while later.
Death Toll Rises to 96
The death toll has risen to 96, according to Kerala DGP.
Kerala Home Minister Arrives at the Kollam Temple
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has arrived at the site of the Kollam temple tragedy.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today expressed shock and grief over the temple fire in Kollam, Kerala that has claimed at least 83 lives so far.
Naidu, in a statement, said it was very unfortunate that such a grave mishap had occurred in a temple. Condoling the deaths, he prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident and extended sympathies to the bereaved families.
PM Modi Asks Air Force and Navy to Assist in Rescue and Relief
PM Modi has asked for mobilisation of Air Force and Navy assets in the area to assist in rescue and relief.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced Rs 2 lakh each as compensation for the next of kin of the dead in the Kollam temple fire which has claimed 83 lives. He also announced Rs 50,000 each for the injured.
Expressing deep anguish and shock over the disaster, he directed the Indian Air Force to ferry the injured to hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram for treatment. The Prime Minister also decided to visit the temple town to take stock of the situation and meet the injured.
Permission wasn’t Granted to Hold Fireworks: Kollam ADM
A senior police officer involved in the rescue operation says the death toll is likely to rise quite a bit.
According to News Minute, Kollam Additional District Magistrate (ADM) had not granted permission to the temple for the annual competitive fireworks carried out by the Kollam Puttingal temple. Screenshots of the letters can be seen below:
Home Minister Ramesh has reached the spot. A case has been registered against the Temple.
Rescue Operations Initiated, Fire Under Control
Health Minister V Sivakumar said that the district collector of Kollam is convening a meeting with police officials following which a decision will be taken on the post-mortem.
The state home minister announced that the situation was under control. The DGP was on the spot, he said, and was coordinating rescue operations.
Earlier visuals of the Puttingal Devi temple at Kollam, Kerala as the fire broke out, have been released by ANI:
Home Minister Rajnath Sigh Assured Help to CM Oomen Chandy, NDRF Being Sent to Kerala
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and assured all central help to deal with the situation arising out of the tragedy. The National Disaster Response Force is being sent to Kerala to assist the local administration.
BJP Chief Amit Shah to Visit Kollam
BJP President Amit Shah has cancelled all his public programmes scheduled in Kerala today. He will visit Kollam later in the day, according to ANI.
Police, disaster management teams and fire brigade are on the spot for rescue work in the Kollam fire tragedy. Rescue operations by the Air Force are also underway.
PM Modi Offers Condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reacted to the shocking incident of the fire at Puttingal temple in Kollam, Kerala.
Calling it “heart-rending and shocking beyond words”, he tweeted that his thoughts are with the families of the deceased. He will also be reaching Kerala soon, he tweeted, to take stock of the situation.
He also mentioned that he had spoken to CM Oommen Chandy about the fire and was arranging to shift the critically injured by helicopter.
83 People Dead and Around 280 Injured
83 people have died and 280 have been injured, according to PTI reports in the Kollam fire mishap, says a Home Ministry spokesperson.
The aftermath of the massive Kollam fire can be seen in these horrifying pictures:
Kerala Fire - Emergency numbers: 0474-2512344, 9497930863, 9497960778.
Kerala CM Oomen Chandy on His Way to Accident Site
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today termed as “unprecedented” and “alarming” the situation at the Puttingal Devi temple where an explosion took place during a festival leaving over 60 dead. Chandy, who cancelled all his scheduled poll programmes, is on his way to the accident site.
“Rescue operation at the mishap spot is over...The next main focus of the government is to provide best treatment to the injured,” he told PTI.
Asked about the death toll, the Chief Minister said the number would go up as reports are pouring in from different hospitals, where the injured have been admitted. “This is an unprecedented and alarming situation,” Chandy said. The government would extend treatment facilities to the injured persons in the hospitals preferred by their relatives, he said.
The State Chief Secretary has been asked to write a letter to the Election Commission for necessary sanction to exclude the treatment facilities to the injured from the ambit of the Election Code of Conduct, he said. At least 63 people were killed and 200 injured when an explosion took place at the Puttingal Devi temple during a festival at Paravoor at around 3 am. As the temple festival was on, fireworks display had commenced at the temple precincts since midnight and hundreds of people had gathered to watch the show.
Injured Admitted to Various Hospitals
Nearly 200 people got injured in the mishap and have been admitted to various hospitals in the district and nearby Thiruvananthapuram, police said.
State Health Minister V S Sivakumar said directives have been issued to hospital authorities to make necessary arrangements for the injured. State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said Director General of Police (DGP) Senkumar is monitoring the rescue operations.
Local media reports quoting Kollam district authorities say the temple authorities ignored warnings issued against holding a huge firework display in the area. They had said the area was vulnerable to such accidents.
District Collector Shinamol, who visited the spot, said evacuation and rescue operations were in full swing. People trapped in the concrete structure, which was completely destroyed in the mishap, were taken out, police said.
Eye witnesses told television channels that the accident took place at 3.30 am. The sound of the explosion in the store-room was heard in and around a two-km radius of the temple, they said.
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