Vatican City, Apr 10, 2016 / 07:05 am
Pope Francis has sent his condolences to the victims and relatives of a fireworks accident on Sunday that killed at least 100 people and injured hundreds of others in India's Kerala state during celebrations of the local Hindu new year.
The Pope was "saddened to learn of the tragic fire at the Puttingal temple complex in Paravur," said the telegram which was addressed to the victims of the blaze, and was signed by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Francis also sent his "condolences to the relatives of the deceased and injured."
100 people were killed and over 380 were wounded at the Puttingal Devi temple during Hindu new year celebrations when a firecracker landed on a shed storing the rest of the fireworks, resulting in a series of explosions, Reuters reports.