+

11 ELECTROCUTED DURING TEMPLE PROCESSION IN TN

At least 11 persons have died due to electrocution during a temple festival in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday morning. The incident took place in Kalimedu village after a temple car came in contact with a high voltage power line and went up in flames, police said today. The incident occurred during the […]

At least 11 persons have died due to electrocution during a temple festival in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday morning. The incident took place in Kalimedu village after a temple car came in contact with a high voltage power line and went up in flames, police said today. The incident occurred during the annual chariot festival.

“A total of 11 people have died. Three people died on the spot and seven died in the hospital. 15 people are injured and have been taken to Thanjavur Medical College for treatment. FIR has been filed and an investigation into the matter has started,” said V. Balakrishnan, Inspector General of Police, Tiruchi Range.

“Prima facie it suggests that some high tension wire came in contact with the temple car (of chariot festival) during the annual chariot festival in the Kallimedu village,” said Balakrishnan. “The temple car was negotiating a turn and faced some obstacle before being reversed when it came in contact with the overhead line,” he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed his condolences over the death of 11 people

due to electrocution during the chariot procession in Appar Swami Temple of Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur and also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin. “Deeply pained by the mishap in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I hope that the injured recover soon,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted. PM Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the Thanjavur mishap and Rs 50,000 for the injured persons.

“An amount of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the mishap in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The injured would be given Rs 50,000,” PMO further said in a tweet. An FIR has also been registered and an investigation has started in connection with deaths due to electrocution during the chariot procession in Tamil Nadu today.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday met those injured in the Thanjavur electrocution incident. He visited Thanjavur Government Medical College and Hospital, where the injured were admitted and undergoing treatment. Stalin also met the families of the deceased. The Chief Minister has announced financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh each for the severely injured and Rs 50,000 each for the injured. “It is a tragic and painful incident. We have ordered government officials to take action on this issue.

I have conveyed my condolences to the bereaved families,” Stalin told media persons after the visit. He also said that officials and doctors have been directed to give proper treatment and care to the injured being treated at the hospital.

The state government has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of the deceased, while Rs 2 lakhs will be given from the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) trust to them.

Tags: