Prime Minister Narendra Modi rushed to Kerala and offered Centre's help to the state government on Sunday evening, hours after the fire at the Puttingal Devi temple in Kollam left more than 100 people dead and 380 injured.
Modi visited the Medical College Hospital in capital Thiruvananthapuram, about 60 kms from the site, where most of those with severe burn injuries were admitted. He asked Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to make arrangements to shift seriously injured patients to Delhi or Mumbai, if needed.
"It is a painful incident, no one knew death can come in this manner. I would like to extend my condolences to the familes of the victims. It is difficult to explain this tragedy in mere words. It is a serious incident," the PM said.
Earlier, shortly after he arrived in Kerala with 15 burn specialists, Modi visited the Puttingal Devi Temple premises at Paravur in Kollam district to take stockof the situation. CM Chandy and state home minister Ramesh Chennithala took the Prime minister around the temple precincts and briefed him on the incident.
The Prime Minister went around the accident site littered with debris of the two buildings, including the 'Kambapura' storehouse where the fireworks had been stocked. The accident happened around 3.30 am, when a live cracker fell inside the storehouse during the temple festival,causing it to explode.
The Prime Minister, who spent around 10 minutes at the spot, also saw the concrete bars, twisted wires and cables.
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.
With PTI Inputs.
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