Military begins rescue work as nearly 100 dead in Indian temple blaze

IANS

10 April, 2016, 14:26

Update: 10 April, 2016, 14:26

People gather around a damaged section of a temple after a fire broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. A huge fire swept through a temple in India's southern Kerala state early on Sunday (April 10), killing nearly 80 people and injuring over 200 gathered for a fireworks display to mark the start of the local Hindu new year. Photo: Reuters

New Delhi: The army, navy and air force on Sunday joined rescue operations in a Kerala temple where a fire tragedy left some 100 people dead, officials said.

At least six helicopters, two aircraft, three naval ships and army medical teams were deployed, a defence ministry official said.

A Dornier utility aircraft, two Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and two Chetaks with medical teams were sent to the site from the Garuda naval air station at Kochi.

Four other utility helicopters, including Mi17 and ALH, were launched from Sulur air force station in Tamil Nadu.

Indian naval ships Kabra, Kalpeni and Sunayna sailed to Kollam with medical supplies, the official said.

"Medical assistance is being provided by the army in Kollam. Two medical teams rushed from Thiruvananthapuram. Military hospitals are kept ready to receive patients," the official added.

An illegal fireworks show in a Hindu temple in Kollam in Kerala early on Sunday set off a huge fire which left nearly 100 people dead and over 350 injured, many in critical condition.