Paravoor tragedy: official toll rises to 106

Thiruvananthapuram: 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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the accident site and hospitals in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram where the injured are being treated.

He also held discussions with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, State ministers and officials on relief operations. Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda, who is camping in Kollam, was also present.

Mr. Modi told the Chief Minister during the meeting that the Central Governor would help if patients needed to be shifted to Mumbai or Delhi for specialised treatment.  He also sought a detailed report from the State administration on how the accident happened.

The Prime Minister said that the Centre fully stood by Kerala government and its people in their hour of crisis. It was difficult to express the painful accident in Puttingal. Even people at a distance of 200 metres were hit.

The Centre has rushed the Chief Controller of Petroleum Explosives Safety Organisation to probe use, storage of firecrackers at the Puttingal Temple complex.

Rahul Gandhi
Congress Vice president Rahul Gandhi also visited the accident site and hospitals.

Mr. Gandhi said that the accident was a national tragedy. “I have spoken to our Chief Minister and our leaders. Our Government is acting decisively and swiftly,” he said.

CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yachuri will visit Paravoor on Monday.