KOLLAM: A day after the horrendous fireworks accident at Puttingal Devi temple in Paravur, the death toll has risen to 109 with three more persons succumbing to their injuries on Monday.
As many as 14 bodies kept at various hospitals in the district are yet to be identified, out of which three will be sent for DNA test. Meanwhile, 20 people including the temple authorities were charged with attempt to murder and sections under Explosives Act by the police.
The fire tragedy had taken place when a cracker storeroom near the temple caught fire during an unauthorised fireworks associated with the temple festival on Sunday morning.
The Chief Explosives Controller Sudarsan Kamal who visited the site earlier on Monday had found blatant violation of the stipulations prescribed under the Explosives Act.
He expressed concern over the huge amount explosives used at the temple. It was beyond the permissible limit. The samples have been sent for further investigations.
