Kollam fire tragedy: Death toll rises to 114

With a 40-year-old man succumbing to injuries at a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, the toll in the temple firework tragedy in Kollam rose to 114.

Sthayan, who was undergoing treatment at the hospital after suffering 50 per cent burns, died on Thursday morning, hospital sources said. He belonged to Edayad at Paravoor in Kollam.

More then 300 persons were still undergoing treatment at hospitals in Thiruvananhpuram and Kollam for the injuries they sustained in the April 10 tragedy, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the government has convened an all party meeting in the chief minister's office in the afternoon to discuss issues related to fireworks. The meeting would be attended by representatives of all major political parties in the state.

A three-member cabinet sub-committee consisting of ministers Adoor Prakesh, Shibu Baby John and V S Sivakumar would visit the accident site for an on-the-spot assessment of the loss suffered to properties following the accident and rehabilitation measures to be undertaken.

The fire tragedy at the 100-year-old Puttingal Devi temple had occurred during an unauthorised display of fireworks early Sunday morning after a spark from a firecracker fell on the storehouse containing crackers, triggering powerful explosions.

Image: A man who was injured in a fire at Puttingal Devi temple, ties a bandage around the head of another injured man inside a hospital ward in Kollam in Kerala. Photograph: Sivaram V/Reuters