The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Condolences pour in for victims

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 17, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Condolences pour in for victims

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 16. The Governor, P.S. Ramamohan Rao, and many other public figures expressed their condolences over the death of many schoolchildren in a fire tragedy at Kumbakonam this morning.

Expressing his "great dismay" over the death of a large number of the students and teachers, Mr Rao wished speedy recovery for the injured. "The State Government will do whatever is possible to alleviate the consequences of this tragedy."

M. Karunanidhi, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president, said though the students belonged to an aided private school, the State Government should provide solatium to the family members of the deceased and enquire into the circumstances that led to the fire. The DMK Trust, on getting all details of the victims, would provide financial assistance to their kin.

G. K. Vasan, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president, wondered how the Government permitted primary schools to function under thatched roofs. Mani Shankar Aiyar, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Panchayati Raj and local member of Parliament, was exploring the possibility of providing Central help to the victims, an official release said.

N. Varadarajan, Communist Party of India (Marxist) state committee secretary, called for action against schools, which did not have adequate infrastructure. S.S.Thiyagarajan, Communist Party of India's state deputy secretary, said the State Government should at least enforce safety rules in school buildings.

S. Thirunavukkarasar, Bharatiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha member of Parliament and former Union Minister, wanted the State and Central Governments to come to the financial help of the injured children. He said he had written to the Prime Minister.

S. Ramadoss, Pattali Makkal Katchi founder, demanded a Madras High Court judge enquire into the tragedy.

Vaiko, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazahgam general secretary, said the State Government should ensure that schools established an accident-free mechanism.

Rajnikant, film actor; E.V.K.S. Elangovan, Union Minister; K. Veeramani, Dravidar Kazhagam president; K. Krishnasamy, Puthiya Thamizhagam president; M.H. Jawahirullah, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazahgam leader; and B.T. Kumar, Tamil Nadu Tamil and English Schools' Association founder also condoled with the death of the children.

The Socialist Unity Centre of India, the Tamil Nadu Nationalist Congress Party, the Students' Federation of India, the All-India Students' Federation, the Tamil Maanila Muslim League, the Janata Dal (Secular), the Federation of Consumer Organisations (Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry), and the Tamil Film Protection Kazhagam urged the State Government to take remedial action immediately.

Mohammed Abdul Ali, Prince of Arcot, in a statement, said he would contribute Rs. 25,000 to any fund to be established by the authorities for the victims.

Leaders visit Kumbakonam

Our Kumbakonam Staff Reporter reports:

Political leaders including the president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), G.K. Vasan, the general secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Vaiko, and the Pattali Makkal Katchi president, G.K. Mani, consoled the parents of the children killed in the tragedy.

They visited the scene of accident and also called on the injured in the hospital.

The Education Minister, C.V. Shanmugam, and the Forest Minister, R. Vaithilingam, visited the accident spot and the hospital to supervise relief operations.

Speaking to mediapersons, Mr. Vaiko said the tragedy of this magnitude was the first of its kind in the State.

In this hour of crisis, the State should learn a lesson and permit schools to function only in safe environs.

Mr. Mani demanded that the Government sanction Rs. 5 lakhs each to the families of the victims.

Mr. Vasan, in a message said it was tragic to see school children burnt to death in a fire.

The TNCC would give a Rs. 5-lakh solatium to the kin of the victims.

Meanwhile, the Dean of the Thanjavur Government Medical College Hospital, Kalavathi Ponniraivan, said a 30-bed ward was kept ready at the medical college hospital.

A team of doctors and six ambulances of the hospital have also been kept standby at the Kumbakonam Government Hospital.

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