Kerala temple fire: Police detain five, Crime Branch takes over probe

Mangalore Today News Network

Apr 11, 2016: Kerala Police on Monday detained five people who were involved in conducting the firework display after a huge fire broke out at Puttingal temple at Paravaur (Kollam District), Kerala early Sunday morning. At least 108 people were killed and over a hundred injured. The fire took place at around 3.30 am.

The incident took place at the 500-year-old Devi Temple at Puttingal of Paravur municipality in Kollam, located around 70 km from the state capital, where a fireworks show is part of the annual festival. The toll is likely to go up as at least two dozen victims are critically injured.

The temple authorities had gone ahead with the show despite denial of permission by the district administration for the fireworks display, on safety grounds.

A 7 member team led by Sudarshan Kamal (Chief Controller Explosives) inspects the site of Kollam temple fire tragedy. On Sunday morning, MoS Nirmala Sitharaman had directed Kamal to inspect the site.

Death toll rises to 108 with two more persons succumbing to injuries in hospitals this morning.

The Kerala Crime Branch is expected to start its probe into the temple fire on Monday. The Kerala Cabinet, which met in Kollam on Sunday afternoon, had decided in favour of a composite probe with a judicial inquiry and a crime branch investigation. The judicial inquiry is headed by former judge Justice N Krishnan Nair, while ADGP Ananthakrishnan will head the crime branch probe.