Around 11 persons including two children have been electrocuted and 15 persons were injured during a chariot procession at a temple in Thanjavur. The incident occured when the temple car came into contact with a high transmission line at Appar Madam temple in Kalimedu.
All the injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment. A case has been registered and investigations are going on, said the Inspector General of Police, Central Zone, Tiruchirapalli.
Thousands of devotees usually take part in the annual chariot festival every year. It appears that there have been severe lapses in the security arrangements for the procession this year. Usually, power supply along the line is turned off but this time as the palanquin was not tall enough to reach the high-transmission line, supply was not turned off.
Presiden Ram Nath Kovind expressed his anguish over the death of 11 people including two small children.
