Around 84 people are feared dead and over 300 injured after a huge fire broke out at Puttingal temple at Paravur in Kollam District, Kerala early Sunday morning.
The injured have been rushed to Travancore and Kollam government hospitals. Of them 80 have been rushed to the Travancore Medical Hospital. "All the doctors and staff have been engaged. We are not sure if more people will be brought in," an official from the hospital said. 13 have been declared dead in Travancore Medical College and 10 in Kollam district hospital.
Most number of injured have been taken to the Kollam district hospital
"This is traumatic. Many relatives have rushed. The bodies are so badly burnt that it is difficult to identify if it's a man or woman," said a staff member at the Travancore Medical College
Home Minister Rajnath Singh is said to reach the spot soon and has assured financial aid to the victims’ kin. Chief Minister Oomen Chandy will reach the spot at 11 am. Only a few bodies have been identified as of now.
The bodies are badly charred, only seven have been identified till now. Identifying the bodies will be a tough challenge as people don't even know who was standing where,” DGP TP Senkumar said.
The number of women and children participating in the festival is lesser as this is a competitive fireworks celebration. Three women have been confirmed dead as of now.
According to reports, the fire could have been caused due to a firework that sparked a pile of fireworks stocked for temple celebrations.