Kerala temple tragedy: Pramod is alive; then who was cremated?

Kollam, April 12: A 26-year-old man who was believed to have died in the Kerala temple fire tragedy has been found to be alive. The question bothering the authorities is: Who was then cremated in his name?

After Pramod, a rubber tapper, went missing following the Sunday disaster at Paravur, his family claimed a body they thought was his and cremated him at night. The family completed all legal procedures.

The family was stunned to get a call from police on Monday night saying Pramod was alive and warded in a hospital at Kollam.

A dazed Pramod told the media that he had no idea how he ended up in the hospital.

"I was standing near the building near the temple that collapsed. The last I heard was a deafening explosion. When I opened my eyes, I was on a hospital bed. I can't believe what happened," he said.

Unemployed, Pramod was part of the fireworks team at the Puttingal Devi temple in Paravur town in Kollam district.

At least 110 people were killed when a huge stock of firecrackers stored near the temple exploded. More than 350 people were injured. At least 21 people are still missing.

The family is happy Pramod is alive. Everyone now wants to know who was the person his family cremated?

IANS