Two days after at least 108 people lost their lives in a massive fire that broke out at Paravur’s Puttingal Devi temple at Kollam in Kerala in the wee hours of Sunday, five members from the temple's committee, who organized the event, surrendered to the police.

The surrendered members have since been reported to include committee president P S Jayalal, secretary J Krishnankutty Pillai, office bearers Ravindran Pillai and Rajendran Pillai, and Treasurer Shiva Prasad.

The five were absconding soon after one of the worst temple tragedies Kerala has witnessed which has claimed 109 lives so far and left over 350 injured.

Crime Branch, which has begun investigations has registered a case against six persons, including members of temple managing committee under Section 307 of the IPC (attempt to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of IPC and under section 4 of Explosives Substances Act.

Besides, the members of the temple managing committee case was also registered against assistants of contractors who held the 'competitive' pyrotechnic display, despite a ban on it by the district administration.

Gross violation of norms and use of banned chemicals led to the Puttingal tragedy, a top explosives official had said yesterday as a case of attempt to murder was filed against six persons including temple officials.

A accused were brought into the crime branch office through the back door after they surrendered, in an alleged attempt to shield them from the media, say media reports.

The committee has been accused of flouting norms and violating guidelines by going ahead with the event. 

With PTI inputs