11 electrocuted in temple procession at TN’s Thanjavur
THANJAVUR: Eight men and three teenage boys were killed and 17 others injured due to electrocution during a temple chariot procession in the district when it came in contact with a high tension transmission line, police said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred when the Appar temple’s chariot procession was passing through the Thanjavur-Boodalur Road, and the chariot’s top portion grazed the high tension transmission line, local authorities said. The temple car, while negotiating a turn, faced an obstacle and when devotees tried to turn its direction it came into contact with the overhead line, police and district revenue department authorities said. Those standing on the chariot were thrown away in the impact and the shrine’s car was completely gutted. All 17 injured have been admitted to the Thanjavur Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Chief minister Stalin announced a one-man commission of enquiry to thoroughly probe the incident and to put forth recommendations to make sure that such unfortunate incidents don’t happen in the future, electricity minister V Senthil Balaji told the assembly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the deaths. “Deeply pained by the mishap in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” he said, while announcing a compensation of ₹2 lakh each to the next of kin of those who lost their lives and ₹50,000 to those injured.
AT LEAST 17 OTHER PEOPLE PART OF THE RELIGIOUS PROCESSION WERE ALSO INURED AFTER COMING INTO CONTACT WITH A HIGH TENSION WIRE
THANJAVUR: Eight men and 3 teenage boys were killed and 17 others injured on Wednesday near here due to electrocution when a temple chariot came in contact with a High Tension electricity line during a procession, police said.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi, chief minister M K Stalin expressed shock and grief over the killings.
Modi announced ₹2 lakh each from PMNRF (Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund) to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives and ₹50,000 to those injured.
Chief minister Stalin, condoling the deaths, ordered a solatium of ₹5 lakh each to the 11 bereaved families.
The tragic incident occurred early when the Appar temple’s chariot procession was passing through the Thanjavur-Boodalur Road, local authorities said. The accident happened when the chariot’s top portion grazed through the HT transmission line, they said.
The temple car, while negotiating a turn faced some obstacle and when devotees tried to turn its direction it came into contact with the overhead line, police and district revenue department authorities said.
The people standing on the chariot were thrown away in the impact and the shrine’s car was completely gutted.
All the 17 injured persons including a woman have been admitted to the Thanjavur Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.
In the Tamil Nadu Assembly, chief minister M K Stalin expressed shock and grief over the deaths due to electrocution and said he would visit the village in Thanjavur District today and meet the kin of the victims.
Also, Stalin said he would visit the hospital and meet those being treated.
As a mark of respect to the departed persons, Stalin moved a resolution conveying the House’s condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families and it was unanimously passed. MLAs stood in silence as a mark of respect.
Stalin said the Thanjavur District in-charge Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, elected representatives and senior officials have been sent to the spot.
The Appar temple is in Kalimedu under the Melaveli Village of Thanjavur District in Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu, about 350 km from Chennai.
“The loss of life, including that of children, due to electrocution in a procession in Thanjavur is a tragedy beyond words. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Kovind tweeted.
“Deeply pained by the mishap in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I hope those injured recover soon,” the prime minister said.