Kerala govt orders judicial probe into Sabarimala stampede

PTI

Vandiperiyar, 15 January 2011: Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan on Saturday announced a judicial inquiry into the stampede at nearby Pulumedu that claimed the lives of 104 Sabarimala pilgrims.

Achuthanandan, who flew down by helicopter to Kumali where the bodies of the victims were brought, also announced a solatium of Rs five lakh for the families of each of the victims.

 
The seriously injured would be given Rs 50,000 and those with minor injuries Rs 25,000 each.

The Government would meet the flight and road transport expenses for ferrying the bodies of victims to their home towns.

The Chief Minister said the government would try to avail the services of a sitting High Court judge for the probe.

He also reviewed with cabinet colleagues on the spot arrangements to transport the bodies as most of the deceased were from neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The Government has announced a three-day mourning in the state.

 
Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A K Antony have cancelled their engagements in Kerala scheduled for tomorrow in view of the tragedy.

104 Sabarimala devotees were killed and over 40 injured in the stampede when a jeep crashed into pilgrims at Pulmedu in Kerala’s Idukki district last night.