HamberMenu
  1. EPaper

To enjoy additional benefits

Crossword+

CONNECT WITH US

Kollam temple fire: Leading personalities express shock

Many leading personalities used their twitter handles to convey their condolences to the grieving families.

April 10, 2016 02:17 pm | Updated November 28, 2021 12:45 pm IST

Internet Desk
Agencies

The Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said “Over 100 persons were confirmed dead and at least 280 injured in the Kollam temple fire mishap, on Sunday.”

Many leading personalities used their twitter handles to convey their condolences to the grieving families.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leading personalities expressed their heartfelt condolences over the loss of lives in the massive fire at a temple in Kerala.

“Heartfelt condolences on loss of lives in Kerala temple fire,” Mr. Pranab said in a tweet.

“Urge state government and other agencies to provide all help to bereaved families and medical assistance to the injured,” the President said.

Mr. Modi described the fire at Kerala temple that killed over 90 people as “heartrending and shocking”.

“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 said in a tweet.

“I will be reaching Kerala soon to take stock of the situation arising duer to the unfortunate fire tragedy in Kollam,” Modi said.

Mr. Modi said he spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and also announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs.2 lakh for the kins of the dead and Rs.50,000 for those seriously injured.

“...arranging for immediate shifting for those critically injured, by a helicopter.”

Officials informed the prime minister had directed authorities not to follow any protocol on his arrival at the site and instead focus on a better and extensive relief and rescue operation.

PMO tweets

Expressing grief cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar said the tragic news shook him and extended prayers to the victims.

“Shaken by the tragic news of #Kollam. Thoughts and prayers go out to those affected. May God give us strength and resolve to bear this loss,” Tendulkar tweeted.

Some twitter handles had the helpline numbers

The Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will visit Kerala to meet those injured.

He is leaving for Kollam to express solidarity, offer condolences and see the relief and rehabilitation operations in the wake of the massive fire at the temple, AICC chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said.

Mr. Surjewala said a judicial inquiry has already been ordered into the incident and the party leadership has asked the chief minister to get in touch with the Election Commission so that financial relief could be promptly provided to the families of the dead and to those injured.

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are in touch with the Chief Minister. The Kerala Health and Home Ministers are overseeing the operations and those injured have been admitted to 13 hospitals.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh described the fire at a Kerala temple that killed over 90 people as “deeply distressing”.

“The news of major fire at Puttingal temple in Kollam is deeply distressing. Extremely pained over the loss of lives in the accident. My heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died in the accident. My prayers are with the injured,” Rajnath tweeted.

“Spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy regarding the accident who apprised me of the situation. Assured him of all possible help from the Centre,” he added.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said he was “saddened” by the fire at a Kerala temple.

“Saddened by the Kerala temple fire tragedy. My heartfelt condolences to families of the deceased and prayers with those injured,” the chief minister tweeted.

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.

B-Town stars mourn temple fire tragedy in Kollam

Bollywood celebrities Rishi Kapoor, Emraan Hashmi and John Abraham have mourned the loss of lives in the major fire that broke out in Puttingal Devi Temple complex.

“Sad. #Puttingal #Kollam #Kerala. Heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased,” Rishi tweeted.

Hashmi wrote, “My deepest condolences to families who lost their beloved ones & prayers for the injured. Strength and power to you all. #Kollam.”

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan retweeted emergency helpline numbers following the tragedy.

Abraham said, “Devastated knowing about the innocent lives lost at the #Kollam fire, my condolences to their families & prayers for all the injured!”

Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur appealed 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.”

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 posted.

Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra said, .

“#KollamTempleFire temples and shrines were built before the population explosion. We have failed to accommodate with time. We are all guilty.”

Actor Anupam Kher said, “Sad to hear about the fire in a temple in Kollam, Kerala. My heartfelt condolences to the families for d loss of their dear ones. #Tragic.”

“Sad visuals of the fire breaking out at the Kollam Temple. Heart goes out to the families of the victims of this terrible tragedy,” wrote Riteish Deshmukh.

Navy, Air Force rush to rescue to Kollam

The Indian Navy and the IAF have deployed six helicopters and one Dornier aircraft to help in rescue operations at the Kerala temple where a fire has left over 90 dead.

The IAF has deployed four choppers including Mi17 and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).

The Indian Navy is deploying one Dornier and two ALH with medical teams from the southern naval command.

It has also deputed three Naval ships — INS Kabra, Kalpeni and INS Sunayna RPT Sunayna with medical stores to Kollam coast to give medical assistance to the injured.

They will be deployed in consultation with local administrative authorities, a Navy spokesperson said.

Surgical teams have also been put on standby at the Naval command hospital in Kochi.

Karnataka to send medical team

The neighbouring Karnataka government said it would send a 10—member medical team with drugs and blood to Kollam in Kerala to provide relief to victims of the tragedy.

“As an immediate relief measure, on the directions from the Chief Minister, we have decided to send in a medical team, medicines and blood to Kerala,” Health Minister U T Khader told reporters.

He said state government officials are in touch with Kerala and the Central government and that the government would be sending additional help, based on the requirements. The team will comprise doctors and paramedical staff.

Khader said, “We are ready to send more specialist doctors and counsellors after getting to know about the ground situation from the Kerala officials.”

The Minister said he has already spoken to his Kerala counterpart about the situation.

Related stories

Related Topics

fire / relief and aid organisation / Kerala

Top News Today

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.