Kerala temple fire 106 Dead , but temple board still wants fireworks

Mangalore Today News Network

Kollam, Apr 11, 2016:  Five people have been detained for the all-night fireworks at the Puttingal temple in Kerala’s Kollam where 106 people died and more than 380 were injured in a massive fire on Sunday. But the Travancore Devaswom Board, one of the most influential temple bodies in the state that governs over 1200 temples, has refused to ban fireworks display.

   
Speaking to NDTV, the Travancore Devaswom Board president said that fireworks will not be banned "under any circumstances" and it is the responsibility of the authorities to ensure safety.
   
A police case has been registered against the temple officials who fled the spot after the tragedy. A team of crime branch has taken over the investigation and a case has been filed against the fireworks’ contractor.
   
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Cheennithala said "Actually, it is not a police failure," on being asked why police had not stopped the fireworks since it was not permitted. "When lakhs of people are assembled here, if there is police action, it will have another problem. So, we have to consider all these aspects" he said.
   
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kollam, where a team of 15 burn specialists had accompanied him. Describing the tragedy as "unimaginable", Prime Minister Modi assured Kerala government and its people all help. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi too, visited the spot -- located 60 km from state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
   
Officials say 10,000-15,000 people were present at a ground next to the temple in Paravur watching fireworks during a festival to honor Goddess Kali when the fire started a little after 3 am.
   
A spark during the fireworks ignited a stack of firecrackers stored in a nearby two-storey building and led to an explosion, witnesses have said. The impact brought down the building around which people had gathered. Within minutes, huge flames engulfed the temple. Successive explosions sent huge chunks of concrete flying as far as a kilometer according to a witness.
   
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the temple was not given permission for the "competitive fireworks", a tradition during the week-long festival. The ban came after the district administration took into account a complaint by a woman who lived close to the temple.
   
The injured have been taken to 10 hospitals in and around Kollam. Those critically injured are being shifted to hospital using choppers. Three naval ships and 10 air force and naval aircraft have joined the rescue efforts.
   
The Chief Minister has announced Rs. 10 lakh as compensation for the kin of each of those killed in the fire. The PM has announced Rs. 2 lakh compensation for the family of each victim.
   
Kerala is studded with temples managed by rich and powerful trusts that often flout local regulations. Each year the temples hold fireworks displays, competing to stage the most spectacular ones, with judges who decide the winners.