A day after a devastating fire swept through the Puttingal Devi Temple complex in Kollam, killing over a 100 people, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notices to the Kerala Chief Secretary and top officials of Kollam district seeking their reports in four weeks.
The Commission, while issuing the notices, observed that the hundreds of lives were put at risk by the temple authorities who decided to continue with the fireworks display despite having been denied permission by the district administration.
It said media reports indicate that the administration remained a “mute spectator” and was “negligent” in preventing the violation of the right to life of the victims.
Apart from the Chief Secretary, the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police of Kollam have been served notices and asked to file reports within four weeks.
The Chief Secretary has also been asked to apprise the Commission about the steps taken by the state government to ensure that such incidents do not occur in future. The Kerala government has ordered a judicial probe and also a probe by the Crime Branch into the incident.
The tragedy had struck during a display of fireworks at the temple complex where thousands of people had gathered to witness it. Sparks from the fireworks fell on the storeroom ‘Kambapura’ and the firecrackers kept there exploded.
South African President Jacob Zuma conveyed his condolence on Monday following the deadly fire at the Kerala temple.
Our thoughts are with the people of India in the aftermath of the catastrophic explosion and blaze at the Puttingal Devi Temple in Kerala State. On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, I send my deepest condolences to the Government of India and to everyone affected, particularly to the families and friends of those killed and injured in the explosion at the temple.President Jacob Zuma
Sujata, a 50-year-old nurse at the Kollam district hospital, said she had not seen such a tragedy in the last 27 years of her career.
Several bodies which had been brought were charred and beyond recognition, she said. Amidst reports that private hospitals are charging exorbitant fees from patients, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy assured that no private hospitals should levy any fees. If they had paid, the same would be refunded to the patients by the government, he added.
A high-level meeting was also held to review the treatment situation in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Health Minister Sivakumar also assured that if any patients needed to be shifted to other hospitals, the government would do so.
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