Thursday 26 / December / 2024
Muscat: A hospital group in Oman has offered INR 50,000 (approx OMR290) ex-gratia for next of kin of those killed in the fireworks disaster, which has so far claimed 110 lives and injuring 383, at a temple in the South Indian state of Kerala, a top official from the hospital group said.
"It's painful to learn that hundreds have been killed and many others are battling for their life following the fireworks accident. Our group will give INR 50,000 (approx OMR290) ex-gratia for next of kin of those killed in the firework disaster and jobs for the victims' family members in our hospitals in the Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC) countries," Dr KT Mohammed Rabeeh Rabiullah, chairman of Shifa Al Jazeera Hospital and Polyclinics group, told Times of Oman.
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The group is setting up three medical facilities comprising both premium class and access hospitals in Al Khuwair, Ruwi and Al Khoudh followed by 10 polyclinics across in Oman.
In March, the group had announced that it will invest around OMR50 million in Oman’s health sector in the next five years.
In one of the worst tragedies to hit Kerala, 110 people were killed and 383 are injured in the major fire that engulfed the 100-year-old Puttingal Devi Temple complex in Kollam district in Kerla during a display of fireworks.
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.
The display, for which no permission had been granted by Revenue and police officials, had started at midnight as part of an annual festival and thousands of people had gathered to witness it.
The mishap occurred as sparks of the fireworks fell on the store room ‘Kambapura’ and the fire crackers kept there exploded with a deafening noise, police said.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told a indian media that the District Collector of Kollam had not given permission to conduct the fireworks.
District Collector A Shainamol said “no permission for any kind of fireworks” was given.
A judicial probe by a retired High Court Judge has been ordered by the state government along with an investigation by Crime Branch into the tragedy, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy announced after an emergency Cabinet meeting over the tragedy.
At least 60 bodies have been identified. Post-mortem will be held as early as possible and bodies handed over to the relatives without any delay, he said.
Scientific examination would be done to identify bodies which have not yet been claimed, he said.
Chandy also announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 10 lakh to kin of each of those killed in fire tragedy, INR200,000 for seriously injured and INR50,000 for those with minor injuries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who termed the incident as “heart-rending” and “shocking”, announced INR 200,000 each as compensation for the next of the kin of the dead and INR50,000 each for the injured. He later rushed to the state to personally take stock of the situation and see the injured people.
