Kollam temple fire case: All 43 accused get bail

TIL Desk/National/Kochi-The Kerala high court has granted bail to all the 43 accused in Kollam temple fire tragedy case. Over a 100 devotees were killed when disaster struck the crowded precincts of the Puttingal Devi Temple at Paravur, south of Kollam, around 3.30 am on March 10 after an entire dump of fire crackers meant to be burst to mark the conclusion of the Meena-Bharani festival exploded.

The high court had in May rejected the bail plea of 39 accused, which included the temple trust officials. The judge observed that the state had developed an unhealthy cultural practice, celebrating religious festivals with fireworks or elephant parades. The judge also observed that “the officers functioning under law do not have guts and commitments to enforce the law.”