India school inferno toll rises

Proper safety norms were ignored at the school

The number of dead from last week's school fire in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has risen to 93, officials say.

They said doctors were unable to save three children who had suffered severe burns.

The condition of 12 others who were injured is said to be stable.

The children were trapped when the school's burning thatched roof fell on them. The fire is believed to have started in the kitchen.

In another development, police have arrested four officials of the state's education department in connection with the fire.

So far 17 people, including the school's headteacher, have been arrested.

Fire grief turns to fury Claustrophobic classrooms

Those arrested include the engineer who built the school in Kumbakonam but failed to give it a fire-safe roof, and six government employees, including those who licensed the school without inspecting it.

Last week, police arrested the school's owner, its head teacher and workers from the kitchen where the fire most likely started.

Counselling

On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu's government set up a commission under a retired judge to investigate the fire.

In a separate development, the children who survived the fire and bereaved parents have started receiving professional counselling to help them deal with their trauma.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha has already ordered that kitchens in schools preparing free noon meals for children be provided with non-combustible roofing.

She also wants mandatory fire-fighting drills carried out in schools.

Highly flammable thatched roofs made of dried palm, straw or coconut leaves are common in the area, as a cheaper alternative to cement.