Kollam : A huge fire broke out at Puttingal temple at Paravaur (Kollam District), Kerala early Sunday morning leaving at least 105 people dead and over a hundred injured, local media said quoting police officials. The fire took place at around 3.30 am this morning.

According to reports, the fire could have been caused due to a blast in the firework stockpile, readied for the temple celebrations. The police had earlier warned temple authorities to restrict usage of fireworks.

It is said, when an explosion was set off in a store of fireworks ready for celebrations of a local Hindu new year festival.

A building at the temple then collapsed, causing many of the fatalities. More than 200 are injured.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is travelling to the scene. He tweeted that the accident in Paravur was “heart-rending and shocking beyond words”.

Many of the injured are in critical condition and are being treated at the government medical college in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital.
Kerala police chief TP Senkumar said that many of the dead were charred beyond recognition and would have to be identified by DNA tests.

The impact of the blast was felt in houses up to a kilometre away.

“Huge pieces of concrete were flying through the air. Chunks landed in our yard,” said resident Jayashree Harikrishnan.
Kerala’s Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered an investigation into the accident.

2 lakh compensation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced Rs. 2 lakh each as compensation for the next of the kin of the dead in Kollam temple fire in which more than 100 people have been killed.

He also announced Rs. 50,000 each for the injured in the tragedy that occurred early this morning in Puttingal Devi Temple near Kollam town.

Expressing deep anguish and shock over the disaster, he directed the Indian Air Force to ferry the injured to hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram for treatment.

The Prime Minister also decided to visit the temple town for taking stock of the situation and meet the injured. He said no protocol formalities should be observed on his arrival in Kollam.