At least 11 persons have died due to electrocution during a temple festival in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday morning. The incident reportedly took place in Kalimedu village after a temple car came in contact with a high voltage power line and went up in flames. The incident occurred during the annual chariot festival.
At least 15 others have been injured in the incident. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin has announced ₹5 lakh each as financial assistance for the deceased, the CM’s office announced this morning.
During the annual chariot festival, the devotees were passing through the road, when somehow the electric wire passing from above came in contact with the chariot, which led to electrocution. There are also reports of many people getting injured and burnt in this accident.
People standing on the chariot were thrown in the impact and electrocuted. Visuals captured by TV channels showed the chariot completely damaged in the impact.
Tamil Nadu | At least 10 people died after a temple car (of chariot festival) came in contact with a live wire in the Thanjavur district. More details are awaited. pic.twitter.com/clhjADE6J3
— ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2022
Police said on Wednesday that children were also among the dead. The tragic accident happened in the early hours of Wednesday near Kalimedu when the Chariot of Appar temple was being taken out.
Those who had suffered injuries have been admitted to the Thanjavur Medical College, police said. The procession was a part of the annual chariot festival in Tamil Nadu.
The 94th festival program was being held at the Thanjavur temple. A large number of devotees had reached the temple to participate in this festival.
