State seeks Rs.117 crore after temple tragedy

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is seeking Rs.117 crore from the central government to mitigate the destruction caused by the Kollam temple tragedy which it says must be declared a national disaster.

"Our revenue secretary will on Monday hand over my letter to the Centre requesting them to declare the incident a national disaster," Chandy told the media here.

A huge stock of fireworks exploded before dawn on April 10 at the Puttingal Devi temple at Paravur town near Kollam, killing 114 people and injuring some 350 others.

The disaster also damaged more than 150 houses and agricultural crops in a one square kilometre radius.