At least 102 people were killed in Kerala while returning from the Sabarimala shrine late on Friday. Helpline numbers for more information on this are 04869 222049 and 0471-231639.The tragedy took place when a jeep went out of control and ploughed into devotees in a narrow forest stretch at Pullumedu in Idukki district, triggering a stampede.AIR correspondent reports all the 102 bodies have been recovered from the site, a remote area on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.At least 60 people have been injured, 15 of them seriously, in the worst tragedy that struck Sabarimala pilgrims in a decade.The accident occured at a place about 7 km from the Sabarimala shrine.A special team of the National Disaster Response Force has left for the spot. Meanwhile, President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh have condoled the death. In a letter to the Kerala Chief Minister and the Governor, the President expressed her grief over the tragedy. She wished a speedy recovery to all those injured in the incident.In his message, Singh expressed condolence to the bereaved families and spoke to Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan about the tragedy. He sanctioned a relief of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 to those injured from the Prime Minister's relief fund.
News On AIR | January 15, 2011 10:52 AM
‘Kerala temple stampede kills 102