Fireworks tragedy: Puttingal panel completes first sitting

KOLLAM: The P.S. Gopinathan commission on  the Puttingal temple tragedy concluded  the  first session of its  sitting at Ashramam government guest house here on Thursday. The commission  examined  22 witnesses, including police officers,  in the three-day sitting.  It will continue the examination  on December 27 – 28 and January 3 – 6 .

The commission, along with lawyers of respondents, also visited the blast site on the temple premises. Nearly 100 persons,  including those associated with the temple, social workers, the injured  and the local residents gave statements and petitions to the commission. The competitive fireworks held during the  temple festival had claimed  110 lives and left  over 700 injured  on  April 10 last year.