The statements given by the seven committee members who were arrested in connection with Kollam temple tragedy holds fireworks contractor Surendran responsible for the mishap at the temple grounds on Sunday.

According to reports, the committee members of Puttingal Devi temple said this in a statement to the crime branch.

An explosion at the storehouse containing fireworks triggered fire at the temple in Kollam during an unauthorized fireworks display killing 108 people and leaving hundred others injured.

The committee members said that in spite of their disapproval for firework competition, the contractor refused to take back the chemical substance he brought and used it for the firework display. They accepted that they were not able to avoid the competitive spirit at the fireworks display, which eventually led to the mishap. The committee members, however, will be held responsible for not informing the police about the contractor resorting to unauthorized means as part of competition.

They revealed to the crime branch that the competition between two parties- last year’s winner Varkala Krishnankutty and contractor Surendran ended up in a disaster killing hundreds of people.