British-Indian MP expresses grief over Kerala temple tragedy

Virendra Sharma, who is also the Chair of the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group, expressed his deep condolences and shock over the temple tragedy in a message.

"I was shocked and saddened by the news. My thoughts are with the families of people who died or injured in the disaster," the 69-year-old British Labour Party politician and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ealing Southall, said yesterday.

At least 106 people were killed and 383 injured in a devastating fire that engulfed the 100-year-old Puttingal Devi Temple complex near Kollam during an unauthorised display of fireworks yesterday.

The tragedy struck around 3.30 AM during display of fireworks at the temple complex, which is around 70 kms from the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.