People frantically look for kin at hospitals

Severely injured victims of the Puttingal Devi temple tragedy, groaning in pain and inconsolable relatives waiting to receive bodies of their near ones, were some of the scenes witnessed at various hospitals, including Government Medical College Hospital here on Monday.

While one more person admitted to the Intensive Care Unit died at the MCH here in the morning, eight other victims, who had been under treatment at local hospitals in Kollam, were brought here on Monday morning, health department said.

A total of 66 victims, including six women, are undergoing treatment at various ICUs and wards at the MCH, they said, adding that a number of persons are also under observation.

The bodies of six patients, kept at the MC mortuary, are yet to be identified and a DNA test is expected to be soon conducted on them, they said.

Relatives and friends gathered at the mortuary to receive bodies of their near ones, said they were yet to come to terms with the shock inflicted on them by the unexpected tragedy.

Soman, a 68-year-old daily wage labour, broke into tears when he received the body of his nephew Vinod Kumar, who lost his life after being severely injured in the fire explosion.

A native of nearby Kaniyapuram, the 34-year-old Vinod had gone to watch the fireworks display with his eight friends.