India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Kollam this evening to take stock of the situation.
Updated : Apr 10, 2016, 06:13 PM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kollam on Sunday to take stock of the situation in the wake of the fire tragedy at Puttingal Devi Temple near Kollam. He first went to Thiruvananthapuram from where he came to Kollam by a navy helicopter.
At Thiruvananthapuram airport, he was received by Governor Justice (Rtd) P Sathasivam and state BJP leaders, including O Rajagopal who gave him the latest update on the mishap. Modi later flew into Kollam where he was received by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and several MPs.
Immediately after reaching, he went to medical college to see the injured people.
PM Modi visits AA Rahim Memorial Hospital in Kollam, accompanied by CM Oommen Chandy and Health Minister JP Nadda pic.twitter.com/1vdTZ1JtCx
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 10, 2016
Earlier, Chandy said he was thankful to the Prime Minister for coming to Kerala to share the grief. He said he was also grateful to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for visiting Kerala in this hour of grief.
Modi, who termed the incident as "heart-rending" and "shocking", announced Rs two lakh each as compensation for the next of the kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.
Earlier in the day, Modi talked to Chandy and conveyed Centre's readiness to extend all kind of help.
Fire at temple in Kollam is heart-rending & shocking beyond words. My thoughts are with families of the deceased & prayers with the injured.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 10, 2016
Spoke to CM Oommen Chandy about the fire at a temple in Kollam. Arranging for immediate shifting of those critically injured via helicopter.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 10, 2016
Have also asked my Cabinet colleague & Health Minister @JPNadda to immediately reach the site of the fire tragedy in Kollam.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 10, 2016
I will be reaching Kerala soon to take stock of the situation arising due to the unfortunate fire tragedy in Kollam.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 10, 2016
The PMO said Modi was constantly monitoring the situation and was in touch with officials. He had directed that no protocol formalities be observed on his arrival in Kerala as focus should remain on relief and rescue operations in Kollam.
Over 100 people were killed and over 300 injured in a major fire that broke out in the Puttingal Devi Temple complex on Sunday early morning during a display of fireworks for which there was no permission from authorities.