Collector blames police for temple fireworks tragedy

Kollam District Collector Shainamol said today that the fireworks tragedy at Paravur Puttingal temple happened because of lapse on the part of the police. Mrs. Shainamol asked how the police could allow fireworks display when she had denied permission to conduct it. She said the decision to deny permission was based on the report submitted by the police on April 6 which said fireworks display cannot be held due to space constraints. The police however changed its stand on the issue within two days but that was not accepted by her. She added that the police now saying that they were misled is childish. The police have nabbed 20 suspects in the preliminary combing operation conducted following the fireworks tragedy at Kollam’s Paravur Puttingal temple. The devastating fire that engulfed the Temple complex during an unauthorised display of fireworks late night on Saturday, left 110 dead and 383 people injured.