Kollam temple fire: Dark Sunday in ‘God’s Own Country’

A view of the damaged temple complex after a massive fire broke out during a fireworks display in Paravoor, north of Thiruvananthapuram, in Kerala. (Photo: PTI)

The country was on Sunday left shocked and saddened as it woke up to the massive temple tragedy in Kerala, with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, along with other leaders and prominent personalities, joining the people in mourning the loss of lives in the fire incident.

“Fire at temple in Kollam is heartrending and shocking beyond words. My thoughts are with families of the deceased and prayers with the injured,” Mr Modi, who visited Kollam, said in a tweet. President Pranab Mukerjee also conveyed “heartfelt condolences on the loss of lives in Kerala temple fire”.

Mr Modi said he spoke to Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy and announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured.

Praying for the departed souls and well-being of the injured, Ms Gandhi asked the Kerala government to ensure ample and immediate relief measures, while party vice-president Rahul Gandhi said my prayers are with the families of those who’ve lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy. He spoke to Mr Chandy.

While ordering a judicial probe, Mr Chandy also announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 10 lakh to kin of each of those killed in the fire tragedy and Rs 2 lakh for seriously injured.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, BJP chief Amit Shah, chief ministers, governors and leaders of various parties expressed grief over the tragedy.

“Very sad news from Kerala. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Prayers for those injured,” West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted.

“Saddened by the Kerala temple fire tragedy. My heartfelt condolences to families of the deceased and prayers with those injured,” her Bihar counterpart, Nitish Kumar, wrote on Twitter.

Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif called up Mr Modi to offer condolences over the tragedy. NC leader Omar Abdullah said his thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. “God be with them in this hour of darkness & despair,” he tweeted.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad too expressed grief at the Kollam temple fire incident, saying “heart goes out for the victims and families”. “Very sad to hear such tragic news. Prayers with all victims,” Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a tweet.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat described as “highly shocking and painful” the temple fire tragedy in Kerala in which over 100 people were killed. “The fireworks mishap... Is highly shocking and painful. The agony of those who lost their kith and kin in the accident and those of whom are injured and their family members are beyond comprehension,” he and his deputy Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi said in a statement.

They also conveyed their heartfelt condolences to all those who have lost their kith and kin in the accident and whose family members are injured.

Bollywood, too, was shaken by the tragedy with filmmaker Shekhar Kapur appealing for control over fire works. “People go to pray and celebrate life. Come away in wake of death and tragedy #fireworks getting dangerous and must must be controlled #Kollam.” Megastar Amitabh Bachchan re-tweeted emergency helpline numbers following the tragedy. John Abraham said, “Devastated knowing about the innocent lives lost at the #Kollam fire, my condolences to their families & prayers for all the injured!”

Actress Dia Mirza blamed the tragedy on negligence. “When tragedies are struck by human apathy and negligence, it makes it so much more painful...So many innocent lives lost. Gutted. #Kollam.” “Heart goes out to all who lost a loved one in #KollamTempleFire.. Deepest condolences. Hope lessons will be learned re firework safety (sic),” actor-director Farhan Akhtar said.