Temple fire tragedy: Kerala to seek Rs 117 crore aid from Centre

“The assistance has been sought for rehabilitation of the injured, compensation to be paid for property loss suffered and treatment expenses of the injured,” Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters here on Monday.

The Chief Minister stated that many of the injured in the fire, which had damaged several houses in and around the temple, would not be able to do any work for the rest of their lives. A three-member cabinet sub-committee, comprising Ministers Adoor Prakesh, VS Sivakumar and Shibu Baby John had visited the site and taken stock of the damage caused, he said. The government decided to seek the central aid after considering the report submitted by the committee, he said. 

Infosys Foundation on Monday donated Rs 35 lakh worth of hospital equipment and medicines for the Kollam temple tragedy victims, who are undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Kerala.

The equipment, comprising four ventilators, 15 alpha beds, Rs 3 lakh worth medicines, 500 bed sheets and other items, was handed over to the Government Medical College authorities here.

Infosys Kerala Development centre chief Sunil Jose handed over the equipment to Medical College superintendent Dr K Mohandas at a function here, an official release said.

The work on the corridor connecting the old hospital block and new Out Patient block of the Medical College, being set up by the Foundation at a cost of Rs 5 crore, would becompleted by May-end, Foundation officials added.