Declare Puttingal temple fire tragedy as 'national calamity': Kerala CM Oommen Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday urged the Union Government to declare the Puttingal temple fire tragedy as a 'national calamity'.

Chandy, who was briefing the media here after a meeting of his state cabinet, also said the Kerala Government is ready for any sort of inquiry, including one by the CBI, into the incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took stock of the situation post the inferno at the temple on Sunday, sought a detailed report from the state administration as to how the fire broke out and caused damage to life and property on such a large scale.

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday suggested that there should be a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry in the Puttingal temple fire mishap.

Seven officials of the temple trust have been arrested in connection with the incident.

After the tragedy, the officials had gone off the radar following which fingers were pointed at the temple committee for violating the guidelines.

The temple authorities had gone ahead with a competitive pyrotechnics display despite the denial of permission from the Kollam district administration.

Over 100 people were killed and several others injured in the fireworks mishap at the Puttingal temple on Sunday.