Lashing out at Police commissioner P. Prakash, district Collector A. Shaina-mol on Monday said the mishap at the Puttingal temple, which claimed 109 lives on Sunday, was due to the negligence of the police and that it was the duty of the police to implement the order, but has failed to do so.

“It is childish that the police commissioner has said that the temple authorities had misled the police. In case of a magisterial order, it is not the duty of the judge to go and implement it, but the duty of the police officers concerned to assure that the order is done,” she said.

Mr Prakash had earlier claimed that the temple authorities misled him by saying that they had received an oral permission to conduct the event. The district magistrate had ordered not to give permission to conduct competitive fireworks at the temple. The police could have prevented it if they abided by it.