By IANS,
New Delhi: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday expressed deep shock at the loss of lives in the stampede at Kerala’s Sabarimala temple.
In a statement, the party’s politburo said that all steps should be taken to provide relief to the survivors of the tragedy.
“The politburo conveys its heartfelt sympathy and condolences to all those families who have suffered a grevious loss,” the statement said.
The statement said that a minute’s silence was observed in memory of those killed at the beginning of the politburo meeting in Kolkata.
The toll in the stampede near Kerala’s famed Sabarimala temple climbed to 104 Saturday with more bodies being brought to hospitals. More than 60 people are injured.
The stampede occurred around 8.00 p.m. Friday when the pilgrims were returning after watching the celestial Makara Jyothi light, the most important event of the pilgrimage, from a hillock some 30 km from the Sabarimala temple.
A report by the state forest department said a tiff between autorickshaw, taxi drivers and pilgrims turned violent, leading to the stampede.
The tragedy took place in Pulumedu, a forested area about 10 km from the Vandiperiyar town in Kerala’s Idukki district.