Rahul visits Kollam; lauds Chandy government for "swift" action

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who rushed to Kollam on Sunday in the aftermath of the devastating fire tragedy that claimed 100 lives and left over 300 injured, appreciated the “swift and decisive” response of the Kerala government to the incident.

Gandhi who visited the accident site and also met the injured, promised to do “whatever is possible” to provide succour to those affected by the massive tragedy.

“As far as the state government, Chandy ji and others are concerned, we will do whatever is possible. If there is something that is required to be raised in the Parliament at the Central level, we will do that,” he said.

Visiting the scene of the disaster on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress leader held a meeting with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Union Health Minister J P Nadda and district officers.

Gandhi termed the incident as a tragedy for the whole country and praised the state’s Congress government for acting very “decisively and swiftly”.

“We have, sort of, taken care of the people who are injured and hurt. I came here to see with my own eyes what had happened. I visited some of the patients...It is a time of tragedy and a very sad time for the state and for the country. We are with the people of Kerala,” he said.

A fire work display at the 100-year-old Puttingal Devi Temple complex turned into a tragedy of humongous proportions as a spark from a firecracker triggered explosions and caused a massive blaze that killed 100 people and left 383 injured.

Chief Minister Chandy held an emergency Cabinet meeting and ordered a judicial probe by a retired high court judge besides an investigation by the Crime Branch.

At least 60 bodies have been identified. A post-mortem will be held as early as possible and bodies handed over to the relatives without any delay, he said. 

Image: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi visits the tragedy site in Kollam. Photograph: PTI