The Prime Minister has announced ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each to next of kin of those killed in the incident.
over 350 reportedly injured. The explosion was caused when the storehouse of the fireworks materials caught fire.
At least 102 persons were killed and over 350 injured after a fire broke out at the Paravur Puttingal Devi temple around 3:30 a.m on Sunday. The fireworks ceremony was held as part of the annual festival of the temple, near Kollam.
Over 100 victims are admitted to the district hospital in Kollam. Many of the injured died before they could reach a hospital. Victims were also admitted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital and at various private hospitals in Kollam.
The explosion was caused when the storehouse of the fireworks materials caught fire. In the impact of the explosion, the office building of the Travancore Devaswom Board near the storehouse was blown off.
Sparks which flew from the fireworks on display landed on the storehouse and caused the explosion, preliminary reports say. There is a district level ban on pyrotechnics at temples but these are held on the basis of temporary permits annually. Such permits are given on religious tradition grounds.
Here's what we know so far:
Live updates:
03: 35 pm: Prime Minister Modi reaches Kollam.
03: 25 pm: Kerala CM announces ex-gratia relief of Rs 10 lakh to kin of each of those killed in fire tragedy, Rs 2 lakh for seriously injured.
Judicial probe ordered into the Kollam temple fire tragedy, says Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy.
03: 00 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Thiruvananthapuram. He will take a helicopter to Kollam to take stock of the situation.
01: 10 pm: So far, 112 persons have been admitted at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. Eleven had been brought dead, while two more succumbed to their injuries while under treatment at the ICU. Read more..
Round-up at 1 pm: The death toll in the Puttingal Devi Temple fireworks tragedy reached 106 at 12.30 p.m. Many of the injured under treatment at various hospitals are critical. Police said that cases have been registered against two persons who had taken the contract for conducting the fireworks display.
12: 45 pm: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy addresses the media at the spot of the explosion.
The distribution of solatiums to the next-of-kin of the deceased will not be affected by the model code of conduct that was in force, says Mr. Chandy. The Chief Secretary has obtained the permission of the Election Commission for the disbursal.
He added that the best-possible medical attention will be ensured for those injured.
Further decisions expected at a Cabinet meeting to be held in Kollam in a short while.
12: 40 pm: 56 persons among the dead have been identified.
12: 20 pm: Death toll touches 106.
12: 15 pm: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi speaks to Oommen Chandy; asks him to ensure proper adequate relief, medical care and assistance to the injured.
11: 50 am: PM Narendra Modi boards flight along with a team of burn specialist doctors. Now en route to Puttingal Temple.
11: 30 am: PM Narendra Modi to reach Thiruvananthapuram airport by 2 p.m. and will proceed to Kollam in a helicopter.
11: 15 am: Two Dornier aircraft and 2 ALH and 2 Chetak helicopters being despatched from Garuda Naval Air Station, Kochi, with medical teams from SNC HQ.
10: 50 am: Surendran, the firework display contractor, succumbs to injuries from the explosion, hospital sources say.
10: 30 am: Two persons who had been admitted in the surgical ICU at Medical College hospital succumbed to their injuries, taking the total death toll at the hospital to 13. So far, 100 persons have been brought to the MCH in Thiruvananthapuram.
10: 20 am: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy says his cabinet will decide to clamp down on illegal firework display.
10: 15 am: Collectors order rejecting the application of the temple to hold a fireworks display on April 9 as "it has become clear that it is not a firework display but a fireworks competition that will be held", and adding that action will be taken against those who break the order.
Collector's order rejecting the application to hold fireworks display at the temple.
10: 00 am: The Prime Minister has announced ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each to next of kin of those killed in temple firework disaster; Rs. 50,000 for the injured.
09: 55 am: Death toll rises to 102.
09: 50 am: Emergency State Cabinet meeting to convened at 3 p.m. today to discuss the incident.
09: 45 am: Earlier in the day, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said he will visit site at 11 a.m. today and decide on course of action. "I have asked Chief Secretary to approach Election Commission for permission to provide monetary relief to those affected," he tweeted.
09: 30 am: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala visits the disaster site in Kollam, says investigation is on.
09: 25 am: Raids conducted in the house of contractor Surendran, who supplied fireworks.
09: 15 am: The Medical College Hospital at Thiruvananthapuram is struggling to handle the influx of victims. Read more
09: 10 am: Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan cancels poll campaign at Malampuzha in north Kerala, rushes to Kollam.
09: 00 am: More pictures are coming in from the site as authorities work to clear the debris.
08: 45 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Kerala to take stock of the situation.
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