MORE than 350 people have been injured and at least 100 killed after a fire broke out at a Hindu temple in India early on Sunday.
CATASTROPHE: A building at the temple is believed to have collapsed
Thousands of people were packed in and around Puttingal Devi temple in Kerala, south India, for a fireworks display celebrating the Hindu new year that started at midnight and went on for several hours.
Prime minister Narendra Modi has since called the incident “heart-rending & shocking beyond words”.
Police believe the fire may have been caused by a rogue firework, which landed in a storage area full of firecrackers and triggered the massive blast.
EMERGENCY: Medics are working to treat the hundreds of wounded people caught in the fire
A building at the temple is reported to have then collapsed, killing at least 100 and injuring at least 350.
Kerala's Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said: “The temple holds an annual firework display every year. We're doing our best to rescue those still trapped,”
Meanwhile the region’s Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said: “Rescue operation at the mishap spot is over.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said: “This is an unprecedented and alarming situation,”
“The next main focus of the government is to provide best treatment to the injured.
“This is an unprecedented and alarming situation,”
Meanwhile local media has claimed that police had not given the temple permission to host the firework display.
India’s Home affairs minister Rajnath Singh said he is “extremely pained over the loss of lives in the accident”
DESTRUCTION: The fire caused death and injury at the temple in Kerala, Southern India
He added: “The news of major fire at Puttingal temple in Kollam is deeply distressing.
“My heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died in Kollam accident. My prayers are with the injured.”
State health authorities said many of the injured had been driven to the state capital as hospitals in Kollam were stretched.
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