Question : Fire Tragedy

(a) whether the Government has taken note of fire incidents/tragedy in various parts of the country including in Puttingal Devi Temple Complex at Kollam in Kerala recently, if so, the details thereof and the total number of persons injured/killed during the last one year and the current year, fire incident and State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has ordered any inquiry in this regard, if so, the details and present status thereof;

(c) whether the Government has announced any ex-gratia for those injured/killed as well as the family members of such victims and if so, the details thereof and the time by which the amount is likely to be released;

(d) whether the Government has deployed the National Disaster Response
Force to assist in relief and rehabilitation of those affected by fire tragedy and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to check such incidents in future including ban on public display of fireworks?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
******


-2-

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*139 FOR 03.05.2016.

(a) to (c): Fire Service being a State subject, State Governments maintain the fire statistics in their jurisdiction. However, the Central Government assists the State Governments, if required by the State Governments.

The Central Government took note of the major fire accident that occurred in Puttingal Devi Temple Complex at Kollam, Kerala on 10.04.2016 at 03.13 AM in which 109 persons lost their lives including two women and two children; 1197 persons were injured out of which 8 persons are reported to be in critical condition in hospital as on date.

So far as the fire incident at Puttingal Devi Temple, Paravur, Kollam District is concerned the State Government has appointed a Commission of Inquiry on 21.04.2016 for making an inquiry into the circumstances and causes that led to the fireworks tragedy. The Commission shall complete the inquiry and submit its report to the Government within six months from the date of publication of this notification. The Central Government (Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion) has also ordered an
…..3/

-3-
L.S.S.Q.NO.*139 FOR 03.05.2016
inquiry and Dr. A.K.Yadav, Joint Chief Controller of Explosives, Chennai has been appointed as the inquiry officer to hold an inquiry into the above accident.

The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 each to the seriously injured persons from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund. The Government of Kerala has taken all necessary rescue and relief measures, which include shifting of the people to Government Hospitals and Private Hospitals for treating the injured, measures for providing health care, setting up of relief camps and providing gratuitous relief including an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 4 lakh to the family of deceased persons.

(d): One team of NDRF comprising of 50 personnel including 02 doctors, 08 Para-medics were airlifted from Rajali Airbase, Arakonam, Tamilnadu at 1317 hrs on 10/04/2016 and was deployed at Trivandrum Medical College to assist hospital staff in providing medical treatment to the victims affected by fire tragedy in Puttingal Devi Temple, Kollam. The team attended to 45 victims of the tragedy there.
….4/
-4-
L.S.S.Q.NO.*139 FOR 03.05.2016

(e): Government has already prescribed Safety Norms for display and storage of fire crackers and inflammable and sparking materials under the Explosive Act 1884 and Explosive Rules of 2008. As per order of the Supreme Court the use of fire crackers is banned between 10 pm and 6 am. The Explosives Act, 1884 and Explosives Rules of 2008 apply throughout the country.

Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization (PESO), Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has written to the Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala, Trivandrum on 12.04.2016 requesting him to prevent reoccurrence of similar type of accident in future.

********