PM Narendra Modi visits site of Kerala temple fire that killed over 100 people

Five persons have been held in connection with the fire tragedy at Puttingal Devi templeFive persons have been held in connection with the fire tragedy at Puttingal Devi temple. (Source: Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Police said five workers associated with the contractor of the fireworks display have been taken into custody.(Source: Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

The contract for the fireworks had been taken by two groups led by Surendran and Krishnan Kutty, police said. (Source: Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

The accused were charged under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of IPC and Section four of the Explosives Substances Act, police said. (Source: Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

"The crime branch has initiated the investigation by collecting evidence from the mishap spot at the temple complex," said ADGP (Crime Branch) S Ananthakrishnan, heading the Crime Branch special investigation team. (Source: Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Union Health Minister JP Nadda visiting those who suffered injuries in the Kerala temple fire. (Source: Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Government medical teams would visit all hospitals where the injured have been admitted to assess the situation, it said. (Source: Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

"More persons will be included as accused after collecting documents and evidence," ADGP Ananthakrishnan said.(Source: Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Kerala AAP Convenor C R Neelakandan visiting the injured in the hospital. (Source: Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

On Sunday, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 10 lakh to kin of each of those killed, Rs two lakh for seriously injured and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries. (Source: Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Over the six weeks leading up to the Kollam fire disaster, officials at every level recommended denial of permission to the Puttingal temple for the fireworks show, and a day before it, banned the display. (Source: Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

The powerful temple administration simply ignored the order, helped along by local politicians with an eye on elections. (Source: Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Sources said there was uncertainty regarding the fireworks show till Saturday afternoon, hours before it began.(Source: Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Kollam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the Thiruvananthapuram medical college to meet the victims of tragedy in Kollam Paravoor Puttingal temple on Sunday. PTI photo Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the injured victims at the Kollam district hospital. (AP Photo) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

PM Modi has announced Rs two lakh each as compensation to the next of kin of dead, and Rs 50,000 to those injured. (PTI photo) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

PM Modi, Kerala CM Oommen Chandy take stock of the situation in Kollam. PTI photo Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visits the site of tragedy in Kollam Paravoor Puttingal temple on Sunday. PTI Photo Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

PM Modi left for Kollam. (Source: ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

A team of doctors including burn specialists will accompany PM Modi to Kerala. (Source: ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

BJP President Amit Shah visits Trivandrum Medical College where injured persons are being given medical assistance. (Source: ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

Rahul Gandhi leaves from his residence in Delhi, will visit Kollam & meet people who got injured in fire tragedy. (Source: ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

Indian Navy's dornier which was dispatched from INS Garuda Naval Air station near Kochi. (Source: ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

Kerala CM Oommen Chandy arrives at the site of Puttingal temple fire tragedy. (Source: ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

A huge fire broke out at Kollam’s Puttingal temple in Kerala early Sunday morning. The fire took place at around 3.30 am this morning. (Express photo) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

The fire could have been caused due to a firework that sparked a pile of fireworks stocked for the temple celebrations.(Express photo) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

The injured have been rushed to local hospitals and those seriously injured are being taken to Thiruvananthapuram. (Express photo) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

President Pranab Mukherjee expressed heartfelt condolences over the loss of lives in the massive fire at a temple in Kerala. Express photo Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

Unexploded fire crackers found in Puttingal temple. Express photo Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

Over 100 people have been killed and 200 injured in the fire. The death toll is likely to rise. (Source: ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

Kerala Home Minister Chennithala has said that a judicial inquiry will be ordered into the fire and that the Chief Minister will be at the site around noon. He also said the government will announce compensation for families of those dead as well as the injured. Express photo Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

The police had earlier warned temple authorities to restrict usage of fireworks.Express photo Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

The Navy, too, is providing all possible assistance. INS Kabra and INS Kalpeni, with medical stores, will sail to Kollam shortly. INS Sunayna will also arrive later. Express photo Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

The IAF choppers – that have been pressed into service – have been requisitioned by the state government, and will be operating from Trivandrum. One Dornier and two ALH are being sent from Garuda Naval air base, Kochi along with medical teams. Express photo Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

The Emergency help line numbers are 0474-2512344, 9497930863, 9497960778. (Source: ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

A ten-member team from Karnataka will leave for Kollam with paramedics, doctors and medicines. Karnataka health minister has said that they have asked the team to purchase medicines directly and that the government will will foot the bill. (Source: ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

A team of burn specialist doctors will also be arriving in Kerala soon. They are travelling with Prime Minister Modi from Kerala. Express photo Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

CM Oommen Chandy has convened an urgent cabinet meeting at 3 pm in Kollam. (Source: ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

BJP president Amit Shah has cancelled all his public programs scheduled in Kerala for the day. He will visit Kollam later this evening. (Source ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

EC has given its nod to Kerala Chief Secretary to disburse financial assistance to the victims. (Source: ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

Thiruvananthapuram Medical College where people injured in Puttingal temple fire, have been admitted. (Source: ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

The fireworks display forms an important part of celebrations at the temple. Traditionally, there is even a competitive fireworks show organised at the temple. However, this year there was no competition, probably because of the local administration’s restrictions.(Source : ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

The building of the Devaswom Board, which runs temples in Kerala, collapsed due to the impact. Many people at the spot complained of bleeding from their ears. (Source : ANI) Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

Police have registered cases against the firework organisers as well as the temple administration. Express photo Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

The fireworks at the temple was organised by two contractors. The tragedy happened when the show by the second contractor was going on. Express photo Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa

A document has come up showing the temple had been denied permission to organise the fireworks. Express photo Click here to read : http://bit.ly/1N1ICXa