Kerala CM Oommen Chandy downplays DGP's remark against PM's visit

KOCHI: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kollam to review the rescue operations following the firework accident at the Puttingal temple was a big relief for the people.

Chandy made the statement after the state police chief TP Senkumar reportedly said that the police was against the visit of the PM on the same day of the tragedy as they feared that it would affect the rescue operations.

The DGP said that the limited police force had been used for re lief and rescue operations as well as providing security to the VVIPs like prime minister and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. Both Chandy and state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala downplayed the statement of the police chief saying the latter was misquoted by the media. Chennithala said that Senkumar was talking about VIP security in general.

After the firework tragedy at Puttungal, which led to the death of 113 people, the PM had visited the spot and the hospitals were the injured were admitted.A team of doctors and burn specialists from Delhi also accompanied the prime minister.

Congress VP Rahul Gandhi and CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury also visited the accident spot.