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Headlines

Ban firecrackers in temple festivals: Amma

Kollam (Kerala), April 10

Spiritual guru Mata Amritanandamayi on Sunday sought a ban on the use of firecrackers at temple festivals after a fire tragedy in a Kerala temple left over 100 people dead.

"Every year we hear at least one such firecracker tragedy," she said in a statement. 

"The government and temple authorities should seriously consider either banning the use of firecrackers at temples or at least minimizing their usage with strict regulation and oversight by the proper authorities."

Exploding firecrackers triggered a tragedy at a Hindu temple in the coastal town of Peravur in Kollam district early on Sunday, leaving around 110 people dead and over 300 injured.

The Mata Amritanandamayi Math announced a compensation of Rs.1 lakh to families of the deceased and Rs.50,000 to each of the injured.

The Math also said that the injured would get free-of-cost treatment at the Amrita Hospital in Kochi.

"I am deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic fire that took the lives of so many innocent men, women and children and severely injured hundreds of others." Amma said.

The temple where the tragedy took place is located 45 km from the Mata Amritanandamayi Math's headquarters.

President expresses grief over Kerala temple tragedy


 President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday expressed condolence over the loss of lives in the Kerala temple blaze.


In a message to Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam, the president said: "I am shocked and distressed to learn about the incident at Kollam’s Puttingal temple this morning, as a result of which a large number of persons have lost their lives and others are injured." 

"Please convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. My prayers are with all the injured persons for their speedy recovery," Mukherjee added.

At least 110 people died and over 350 were injured when an illegal fireworks show in the temple early on Sunday set off a huge fire. 

The tragedy occurred around 3.30 a.m. in the coastal town of Peravur when a spark from an exploding firecracker landed on a building where a vast quantity of crackers had been stored, setting off explosions and a massive blaze that brought down the structure, witnesses said.