2 dead in ‘stampede’ at Madurai temple

Press Trust of India

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin announced a solatium of ₹5 lakh each to the families of two persons, who lost their lives in a stampede during the 12th day festivities of the annual Chithirai festival in Madurai on Saturday.

The 15-day event, which commenced on April 5 at the renowned Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwarar temple, saw lakhs of devotees crowding the Vaigai river bank from 4 am on Saturday to watch the grand entry of Lord Kallazhagar into the river. The lord, adorned in green silk robes and mounted on golden stallion, entered the river after 5.30 am, people familiar with the development said.

This event, coinciding with Pournami, is observed two days after the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi with Lord Sundereshwarar on April 14, marking the 10th day festival.

With the Chithirai (AprilMay) festival being held with the participation of devotees after two years following the Covid-19 pandemic, people started swarming since the wee hours. A man and a woman died in the stampede and one person was grievously injured. About seven people who sustained injuries were admitted to Government Rajaji hospital in the city.

“The news about the tragic incident caused great agony,” the CM said and expressed his condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family members.

He announced a solatium of ₹5 lakh each to the families of the two persons who died, ₹2 lakh to the grievously injured besides ₹1 lakh each to those who sustained simple injuries from the CM’s Public Relief Fund and ordered the disbursement of the relief immediately, an official release said.

PTI Devotees in large numbers take part in a procession on the occasion of Chithirai festival in Madurai on Saturday.