Kerala temple fire heartrending, shocking: PM Modi

10 April, New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief in the Kerala Temple fire tragedy describing the incident ‘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,” Modi said in a tweet.

In a tweet, Modi said, he will be reaching Kerala soon to take stock of the situation. He said, he spoke to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy about the accident and asked him to arrange immediate shifting of those critically injured via helicopter.

Modi is heading to the tragedy sport in a special Air-Force place along with a specialist medical team for treatment.

The Prime Minister has also announced two lakh rupees each as compensation to the next of the kin of the dead, and 50,000 rupees each to those injured.

Chandy, who is also rushing to the accident spot, said the situation was unprecedented and alarming. He said, the focus is to provide best treatment to the injured.

The Chief Minister said, the State Chief Secretary has been asked to write a letter to the Election Commission for necessary sanction to exclude the treatment facilities to the injured from the ambit of the Election Code of Conduct.

The district administration has set up a control room number. The number is 0474-251-2344 (Repeat 0474-251-2344).