Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said that the government has initiated emergency measures to provide assistance to families of the victims of Sabarimala tragedy and medical aid to the injured in the mishap.
Speaking to reporters at the Government Guest House here in the morning before he left for Kumily by helicopter, Mr. Achuthanandan said that the Pathanamthitta District Collector has been instructed to conduct a detailed inquiry into the cause of the mishap in which over 100 Sabarimala pilgrims were killed. He said that Home Secretary K. Jayakumar would co-ordinate and supervise the investigation.
The Chief Minister said that the Cabinet would meet and decide the compensation for the families of the victims and the injured. He said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to him over telephone in the morning and expressed his condolence. Dr. Singh had also assured him that the Central government would take all measures required to help the families of the victims and the injured.
The Chief Minister also said that the government had decided to declare one-day holiday to condole the death of the Sabarimala pilgrims and observe three day mourning. He said that it was most unfortunate that the tragedy occurred at a time when the State government and the Devaswom Board had been taking steps to provide more facilities to the increasing number of Ayyappa devotees visiting Sabarimala. He said that the tragedy had occurred at a spot which was selected by the devotees.
The Chief Minister was here to attend various public functions in Kannur on Saturday. All his scheduled programmes were cancelled.
