Indian Church offers help to the victims of the Puttingal temple tragedy in Paravur
This morning a fire set off a store of fireworks that exploded. So far, 106 people are known to have died with more than 350 injured. Rescue operations are still underway. Card Oswald Gracias offered the Catholic Church’s prayers and help.
Paravur (AsiaNews) – A blaze sparked by exploding fireworks killed scores of people at a Hindu temple in the Indian state of Kerala.
Responding to the event, Card Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), expressed deep "pain and sorrow for the tragic loss of life.
““The Catholic Church in India will extend all medical assistance to the more than 350 people injured,” he told AsiaNews.
At around 3:10 am (local time), a major fire broke out near the Puttingal Hindu temple in Paravur, Kollam district, in the state of Kerala. At the time, about 15,000 were celebrating the beginning of the Hindu New Year watching an all-night fireworks display.
Suddenly a fire started when an explosion was set off in a store of fireworks, which resulted in the death of 106 people and the injury of another 350. The toll is expected to rise as rescue operations are still ongoing.
Upon hearing about the incident, Card Gracias expressed his "condolences towards and prayers to the families of the bereaved and shares the pain and anguish of the families of those wounded”. The prelate also assured “the injured of his spiritual closeness”.
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21/07/2005
