Indo-Americans have expressed shock and dismay at the tragedy in remote Kerala (India), where stampede caused the deaths of dozens of returning Sabarimala pilgrims and injuring many more on Friday night.
Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) on Saturday, said: “Our hearts and thoughts go out for the victims and their families and we are all in shock over this unimaginable loss. He called for prayers for the victims of the tragedy and their families, which reportedly happened on the last day of the about two-month festival.”
Zed, who is Chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, argued that it ‘clearly reflected’ on India and Kerala governments who appeared to have ‘failed to properly manage a popular annual pilgrimage’.
He said India was on track to become a global power but even could not manage a domestic event properly.
He demanded apology from India and Kerala governments for failure to prevent ‘this preventable tragedy, adequate compensation for the affected and their families, and action against the negligent officials’.
Zed also appealed to India’s billionaires/millionaires, ‘who had enormously benefitted from India’s economic growth’, to come to the aid of the victims and their families
The death toll in Kerala's Sabarimala pilgrim tragedy of Friday night rose to 104, said officials on Saturday afternoon.
According to senior government officials, 104 people have been killed so far.
However, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac has confirmed death reports of 102 people.
"The total number of dead is 102 while 56 bodies could be identified," said Isaac.
He said an auto rickshaw accident led to the stampede in Idukki district that killed over 100 and wounded many.
Defence Minister A K Antony said army and navy were pressed into rescue operation.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has announced an immediate compensation of Rs 1 lakh for the next of kin of the dead.
The Prime Minister and President Pratibha Patil have expressed their condolences over the tragedy.
The people killed, devotees of Lord Ayyappa, were returning after the Makaravilakku festival in Sabarimala when they throng the shrine to watch the Makarjyoti star, a celestial spectacle that brings good luck.
According to initial reports, a jeep went out of control and ploughed into the pilgrims on foot spurring the stampede, but on Saturday the state finance minister said the accident involved an auto rickshaw.
Kerala Education Minister M A Baby told reporters earlier that the tragedy occurred in an inaccessible hilly region, hampering the rescue operation.
The deceased devotees, mostly from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, were returning home to celebrate Pongal after a visit to the famous Lord Ayyappa temple.
According to initial estimates, about 1.5 lakh people were returning by the route.
Makaravilakku festival sees thousands of devotees flow in to Sabarimala to witness the rituals and the Thiruvabharana procession.
The accident spot is about 50 km from Sabarimala and nearly 300 km north of Kerala capital Thiruvanthapuram.
The Kerala government will announce more compensations, reports said.
The Helpline numbers given by the Kumuli police station in Kerala are 0486922049 and 04869253456.
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in Kerala, where Lord Ayyappan is believed to have meditated after killing the powerful demoness Mahishi. Lord Ayyappan's temple is situated on a hilltop and is surrounded by mountains and dense forests. About 50 million pilgrims visit Sabarimala annually.