Puttingal Temple fire: Centre fully stands by Kerala government and its people, says PM Modi

Pic courtesy: ANI

Kollam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that Centre was fully with Kerala government and its people in the wake a major fire that engulfed the 100-year-old Puttingal Devi Temple complex near here.

"Centre fully stands by Kerala government and its people in this hour of crisis," PM Modi said after visiting Temple fire site and hospital, adding, "I have told CM that Government of India will help if patients need to be shifted to Mumbai or Delhi."

"I visited Kollam and the hospital today, my sympathies are with the kin of the deceased persons. Difficult to express the painful accident in Puttingal, people at a distance of 200 metres got injured," he added.

In one of the worst tragedies to hit Kerala, more than 100 people were killed in the fire during a display of fireworks, for which no permission had been granted by the authorities.

A judicial probe by a retired High Court Judge was ordered by the state government along with an investigation by Crime Branch into the tragedy, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy announced after an emergency Cabinet meeting over the tragedy.

Chandy also announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 10 lakh to kin of each of those killed in fire tragedy, Rs 2 lakh for seriously injured and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries.

PM Modi announced Rs two lakh each as compensation for the next of the kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 each for the injured. 

The PM arrived in Kerala today to take stock of the situation and first went to Thiruvananthapuram from where he came here by a navy helicopter.

At Thiruvananthapuram airport, he was received by Governor Justice (Rtd) P Sathasivam and state BJP leaders, including O Rajagopal who gave him the latest update on the mishap.

PM Modi later 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.

PM @narendramodi at the site of the tragedy in Kollam with CM Oommen Chandy & other officials. pic.twitter.com/mXs8DwI2Xx

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 10, 2016

PM @narendramodi at the Kollam district hospital. pic.twitter.com/nRd7sNgsgt

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 10, 2016

PM @narendramodi meeting CM Oommen Chandy & local administration officials. Health Minister @JPNadda is also present pic.twitter.com/wmU3Gzny4L

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 10, 2016

The Prime Minister at Trivandrum Medical College. pic.twitter.com/5vDgyEBtpr

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 10, 2016

(With PTI inputs)