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
PM will travel to Kerala in the wake of the fire in Kollam. He is constantly monitoring the situation & is in touch with officials.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) >April 10, 2016
Rs. 50,000 will be provided to those injured in the fire at a temple in Kollam.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) >April 10, 2016
PM has directed that no protocol formalities be observed on his arrival in Kerala & focus remains on relief & rescue operations in Kollam.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) >April 10, 2016
A team of doctors including burn specialists will accompany PM >@narendramodi to Kerala.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) >April 10, 2016
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.
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.
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) >April 10, 2016
Some twitter handles had the helpline numbers
>#Kollam Kerala temple fire helpline numbers: 0474 2512344 9497930869 9497960778
— Deepika Joshi (@Deepika0092) >April 10, 2016
The Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will visit Kerala to meet those injured.
My prayers are with the families of those who've lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) >April 10, 2016
Spoke to CM >@Oommen_Chandy ji to ensure that adequate relief, medical care and assistance is being provided to the injured at the earliest
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) >April 10, 2016
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”.
Spoke to Kerala CM Sh.Chandy regarding the Kollam accident who apprised me of the situation.Assured him of all possible help from the Centre
— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) >April 10, 2016
“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.
Saddened by the Kerala temple fire tragedy. My heartfelt Condolences to families of the deceased and prayers with those injured.
— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) >April 10, 2016
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.
Sad. >#Puttingal>#Kollam>#Kerala . Heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.
— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) >April 10, 2016
Hashmi wrote, “My deepest condolences to families who lost their beloved ones & prayers for the injured. Strength and power to you all. #Kollam.”
My deepest condolences to families who lost their beloved ones & prayers for the injured. Strength and power to you all. >#Kollam
— emraan hashmi (@emraanhashmi) >April 10, 2016
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!”
Devastated knowing about the innocent lives lost at the >#Kollam fire, my condolences to their families & prayers for all the injured!
— John Abraham (@TheJohnAbraham) >April 10, 2016
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 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
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) >April 10, 2016
“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.
Sad visuals of the fire breaking out at the Kollam Temple. Heart goes out to the families of the victims of this terrible tragedy.
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) >April 10, 2016
Another fire tragedy at a public place. We need to adhere to strict fire safety rules & its implementation should be the top most priority
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) >April 10, 2016
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.
Central Govt already offered medical assistance,but we're fully equipped,arrangements are good- Kerala CM >#Kollam>pic.twitter.com/yiHftZorrZ
— ANI (@ANI_news) >April 10, 2016
