Kollam: Toll in temple tragedy put as 108

Kerala government on Thursday put the toll in the Puttingal Devi Temple fireworks tragedy at 108, saying the higher number of dead announced earlier was due to "duplication" in counting.

As of Thursday, the toll in the Sunday's devastating accident is 108 and not 114 as stated by the government earlier.

The government announced the new toll after a three-member Cabinet Sub-Committee visited Paravoor and held a review meeting with police, health department and other officials.

"There was duplication in counting of names. Besides two persons who were killed in a road accident had also been listed among the tragedy victims," State Health Minister V S

Shivakumar, who was among the sub-committee members, told reporters in Kollam.

The other two ministers -- Adoor Prakash and Shibu Baby John -- were also present at the press briefing.

Kollam District Medical Officer Dr Jayasankar told PTI that there were now 11 unidentified bodies in various hospitals and 21 missing persons, including two suspected to be from Rajasthan. There are also 14 bags of body parts.

DNA mapping of all the bodies would be completed by tomorrow, he said.

40-year old Satyan, who was undergoing treatment at the medical college hospital here for 50 per cent burns, died this morning, hospital sources said.

More than 300 persons were still undergoing treatment at hospitals here and Kollam for the injuries they sustained in the April 10 tragedy which occurred during an unauthorised fireworks display at the 100-year-old Devi temple.