Situation at mishap site alarming: Oommen Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram, April 10: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today termed as "unprecedented" and "alarming" the situation at the Puttingal Devi temple where an explosion took place during a festival leaving over 60 dead.

Chandy, who cancelled all his scheduled poll programmes, is on his way to the accident site. "Rescue operation at the mishap spot is over...The next main focus of the government is to provide best treatment to the injured," he said.

Asked about the death toll, the Chief Minister said the number would go up as reports are pouring in from different hospitals, where the injured have been admitted. "This is an unprecedented and alarming situation," Chandy said.

The government would extend treatment facilities to the injured persons in the hospitals preferred by their relatives, he said.

The State Chief Secretary has been asked to write a letter to the Election Commission for necessary sanction to exclude the treatment facilities to the injured from the ambit of the Election Code of Conduct, he said.

At least 63 people were killed and 200 injured when an explosion took place at the Puttingal Devi temple during a festival at Paravoor at around 3 AM. As the temple festival was on, fireworks display had commenced at the temple precincts since midnight and hundreds of people had gathered to watch the show.

PTI