A view of a damaged building after a massive fire broke out during a fireworks display at Puttingal Devi temple in Kerala on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)

Over 100 people have been killed and more than 300 injured after a major fire broke out at the Puttingal Devi temple in Kerala's Kollam district, police said.



The fire broke out at the temple at around 3.30 am today morning during festivities that involved firecrackers. The Air Force has deployed four helicopters to airlift the injured out of the temple site and take them to hospitals to Thiruvananthapuram. Meanwhile, Health Minister VS Shivakumar has directed to make all arrangements at Trivandrum Medical College and Kollam general hospital. In pics

Kerala: PM Modi at the accident site of Puttingal temple in #Kollam for on-the-spot assessment of fire tragedy. pic.twitter.com/AoCRhuxqeS ANI (@ANI_news) April 10, 2016

#Kollam temple tragedy: PM Narendra Modi arrives in Thiruvananthapuram pic.twitter.com/2kH3kZYifr ANI (@ANI_news) April 10, 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced Rs 2 lakh each as compensation to the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured. Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has also announced financial assistance for the dead and the injured.



Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's office confirmed that they had not granted permission to the temple authorities to store or use crackers in the premises. District collector Shaina Mol also had denied permission for using fireworks. But despite the lack of permission, the fireworks were conducted in the run up to the Malayalam new year, Vishu, on April 14.



Chandy said the situation was "unprecedented and alarming". "Rescue operation at the mishap spot is over...The next main focus of the government is to provide best treatment to the injured," he said.



Reportedly, the Devaswom Board building in the temple premises have also been completely destroyed. In pics



"The normal practice is to store the high potency crackers in the building and from there it's taken to the place where their is light. A spark from a live cracker landed in the building that stored these massive crackers," Kunjumon, a local believer, said.

HELPLINE NUMBERS: 0474 2512344, 949760778, 949730869



WATCH: Moment when fire broke at Puttingal temple fire in Kollam (Kerala) due to fireworks display, 75 dead.https://t.co/xXtBnZkgWX &; ANI (@ANI_news) April 10, 2016

KERALA TEMPLE FIRE: WHO SAID WHAT

PM Narendra Modi:

Fire at temple in Kollam is heart-rending and shocking beyond words. My thoughts are with families of the deceased and prayers with the injured.

Spoke to CM Oommen Chandy about the fire at a temple in Kollam. Arranging for immediate shifting of those critically injured via helicopter.

Have also asked my Cabinet colleague and Health Minister JP Nadda to immediately reach the site of the fire tragedy in Kollam.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh

The news of major fire at Puttingal temple in Kollam is deeply distressing. Extremely pained over the loss of lives in the accident.

My heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died in Kollam accident. My prayers are with the injured.

Spoke to Kerala CM Sh. Chandy regarding the Kollam accident who apprised me of the situation. Assured him of all possible help from the Centre.

Kerala Health Minister VS Sivakumar on Puttingal temple fire

We're giving all possible support to the injured people.



BJP's Amit Shah

Pained beyond words at the loss of lives in fire incident in Puttingal temple, Kerala. My prayers with the family of those affected. Cancelling all my public programs scheduled in Kerala today.