Kumbakonam: As the toll in last Friday's (Jul 16, 2004) fire tragedy in Kumbakonam rose to 93 today (Jul 22, 2004), DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) president M Karunanidhi said that no amount paid as compensation to the families of the victims would heal their wounds.

In an informal chat with reporters after visiting the injured in the Government hospital and also the accident site, he said that he came in to personally pay his condolences.

Asked whether he was satisfied with the action taken by the Government, he said, "In cases like this, guilty should certainly be punished. At the same time, innocent people should not be punished."

The former Chief Minister distributed Rs.28 lakh as solatium to 112 families affected by the devastating fire at the rate of Rs 25,000 to each family. The amount was donated by the DMK trust.

Karunanidhi said he was terribly shocked on hearing about the accident and had immediately asked his son, M K Stalin, to visit the accident site to console the parents.

Karunanidhi said that the condition of the injured children in the Government hospital was 'stable' and wished them speedy recovery.