Kerala government to order judicial probe into stampede

Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan today announced a judicial inquiry into the stampede tragedy that claimed 104 lives at Pullumedu near Vandipaeriyar last night.Achuthanandan, who flew down by a helicopter to Kumali where the bodies of the victims were brought, also announced a solatium of Rs5 lakh for the family of each of the victims.The serious injured would be given Rs50,000 and those having suffered minor injuries Rs25,000.The government would meet the flight and road transport charges for taking the bodies of the victims to their respective places.He said the government would try to get the services of a sitting high court judge for conducting the probe.The chief minister also reviewed with his cabinet colleagues already on the spot about the arrangements fortransporting the bodies to their homes as most of the deceased were from the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.The government had announced a three-day mourning in the state.Meanwhile,Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and defence minister AK Antony cancelled their engagements in Kerala scheduled for tomorrow in view of the tragedy.