News and Views

The official toll of fireworks tragedy at Paravoor near Kollam in Kerala has risen to 106. As many as 383 persons are in various hospitals with burn and other injuries. The condition of about 60 of the injured is serious.

Of the dead, 75 have been identified. Post mortem has been conducted on 84 bodies and some of them have been released to the relatives.

Thiruvananthapuram: The government has announced a judicial enquiry into the Paravoor fireworks tragedy.

The decision to institute the enquiry was taken at an emergency meeting of the Cabinet held in Kollam on Sunday.

The Devi temple at Puttingal had conducted the fireworks displays that caused the biggest fireworks related accident in Kerala last night, without permission from the authorities.

The accident happened towards the end of the pyrotechnic displays which were canvassed on a competitive basis.

The temple management committee had applied to the district administration for permission to hold the fireworks displays. However, Additional District Magistrate, Kollam, refused permission for the fireworks on finding that the programme was being organised on a competitive basis.

Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will shortly visit Kollam where an accident during fireworks display at a temple claimed more than 100 lives.

Mr. Modi will be accompanied by a team of doctors and para medical staff. While Mr. Modi will reach Kollam by 3 pm, Rahul Gandhi is expected to reach Kollam by 4 pm.

Kollam: More than 100 persons died in a fireworks accident during festival at Paravoor Puttingal temple early this morning. Many have been injured.