Kerala temple fire: Ensure guilty are brought to book, says Sonia Gandhi

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday asked Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to ensure that guilty in the Puttingal Devi Temple fire tragedy, which claimed over 100 lives and left over 350 injured, are immediately brought to book.

As the Kerala Government constituted a judicial inquiry which has been asked to submit its report in six months, Gandhi wrote to Chandy, "Providing medical relief, financial assistance and bringing the guilty to book immediately, will, I am sure, be a priority, and will be ensured without delay."

"I write to you in this hour of devastating tragedy that has taken more than a hundred lives and injured many more, to reiterate my grief and concern. The Congress Party, as indeed the entire nation, stands with people of Kerala today," the letter read.

"I am certain, that as discussed with you earlier over phone, the Government of Kerala is ensuring all possible relief measures in terms of medical treatment, emergency protocols and compensation," she wrote.

At least 106 people were killed and 383 injured in a devastating fire that engulfed the 100-year-old Puttingal Devi Temple complex near Kollam during an unauthorised display of fireworks early today.

A judicial probe by a retired High Court Judge has been ordered by the state government along with an investigation by Crime Branch into the tragedy, Chandy announced after an emergency Cabinet meeting over the tragedy.

The tragedy struck around 3.30 AM during display of fireworks at the temple complex, which is around 70 kms from the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.