Rahul Gandhi visits Puttingal Devi temple fire tragedy site in Kollam

Pic courtesy: ANI

Kollam: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday visited the site of the deadly inferno at the Puttingal temple in Kerala`s Kollam district where at least 105 people were killed in the fire.

Accompanied by Congress leader AK Antony and Kerala Home Minister, Ramesh Chennithala, Rahul proceeded to the AA Rahim Memorial Hospital to meet those who had been injured in the tragedy.

The official Twitter handle of the Indian National Congress posted some pictures of Rahul from the accident site:

Rahul Gandhi at the Puttingal temple fire tragedy site in Kollam pic.twitter.com/ZIKfHKvbDh — INC India (@INCIndia) April 10, 2016

The Congress vice president also met those injured in the Kollam temple fire tragedy at the AA Rahim Memorial Hospital.

Rahul Gandhi meeting the injured at the AA Rahim Memorial Hospital, Kollam pic.twitter.com/LtqaqNqq5y — INC India (@INCIndia) April 10, 2016

"My prayers are with families of those who've lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy," said Gandhi after meeting the victims.

"This is a tragedy for Kerala and the whole country," he added.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also arrived in Kollam and took stock of the entire situation.

He was accompanied by Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Union Health Minister JP Nadda, as he visited the site of the incident and met the victims in the hospital.

A team of 15 burn specialist doctors from All India Institute of Medical Science and other hospitals from Delhi accompanied the Prime Minister to Kollam. He also visited the Naval relief facility set up at Kollam and the ships providing support to medical teams and undertaking blood donation.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Government has announced a judicial inquiry to be headed by retired high court justice Krishnan Nair into the incident.Chandy told ANI in an exclusive conversation after emerging out of the Cabinet meeting that the inquiry committee would submit its report within six months.

"We have announced an ex relief of Rs 10 lakhs to next of kin of the people, who have died in the accident and free treatment to all the injured. Apart from that, serious injured will get Rs. two lakhs and Rs 50,000 will be given to minor injured people," said Chandy.

Elaborating on the rescue operations, the Chief Minister said, "The rescue part is almost over and now we are all concentrating to give the best available medical treatment to the injured.

Prime Minister Modi had aslo announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs two lakh to next of the kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to those critically injured in the incident.

The Prime Minister had earlier said that the fire at a temple in Kollam is heart-rending and shocking beyond words.

"My thoughts are with families of the deceased & prayers with the injured," he tweeted earlier in the day.

At least 105 people were charred to death in a fire accident at Puttingal temple during a festival at Paravur in Kollam district early this morning. 350 people have been injured and admitted to various hospitals.

The fire broke out due to the explosion of crackers at the temple. The fire has now been brought under control.The district administration has set up a control room number. The number is 0474-251-2344 (Repeat 0474-251-2344).  

(With Agency inputs)