Puttingal fire: Amit Shah visits Trivandrum Medical College, offers condolences

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah today visited the Trivandrum Medical College to meet those injured following the massive fire at the Puttingal temple in Kerala and offered his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident.

Talking to the media, Shah dubbed the incident as heart-rending.

"A lot of people have been injured. I have visited the Trivandrum Medical College, I have also met the injured persons and also interacted with the doctors there," Shah said.

"I express my sorrows and condolences on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party. We also pray to god to give strength to the people, who lost their loved ones," he added.

Shah further said the Central Government has announced a compensation of Rs. two lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 each for those injured.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has joined the rescue operation, dispatching one Dornier, two Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) and medical teams from Garuda Naval Air station near Kochi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs. two lakh to next of the kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to those critically injured in the incident.

The Prime Minister, who will land directly here with a team of burn specialist doctors, instructed that no official welcome protocols should be followed on his arrival here.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will also be visiting Kollam this afternoon to meet the victims.

I visited Trivandrum Medical College, met injured persons & had interaction with doctors too: Amit Shah #Puttingal pic.twitter.com/R0a0DKGjLr

— ANI (@ANI_news) April 10, 2016