New Delhi: At least 11 people have died in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur district after they were electrocuted during a temple festival. According to PTI report, the temple car (chariot) came in contact with an overhead livewire during a procession. There are also reports of six seriously injured in the incident. 


The incident took place in Kalimedu village during the annual chariot festival.






Following the incident, the police have registered an FIR and are investigating the matter, said V Balakrishnan, Inspector General of Police, Tiruchi Range, reported ANI. 



"Tamil Nadu Government has constituted a one-man committee to probe into Thanjavur electrocution incident. Committee will be headed by Revenue Secretary Kumar Jayant," said Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji in State Assembly today.






President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, and Chief Minister M K Stalin communicated shock and pain over the killings.


Modi declared Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund) to the closest relative of the people who have lost their lives and Rs 50,000 to those injured.


Chief Minister Stalin, mourning the passings, ordered a solatium of Rs 5 lakh each to the 11 deprived families.



In the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Chief Minister M K Stalin communicated shock and pain over the passings because of electric shock and said he would visit the town in Thanjavur District today and meet the kin of the victims. Additionally, Stalin said he would visit the clinic and meet those being dealt with.


As a sign of regard to the departed persons, Stalin moved a resolution passing the House's sympathies and feelings on to the deprived families and it was unanimously passed. MLAs remained peacefully as a sign of regard.


Stalin said the Thanjavur District in-control Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, elected representatives and senior authorities have been sent to the spot.


The Appar sanctuary is in Kalimedu under the Melaveli Village of Thanjavur District in Cauvery delta area of Tamil Nadu, around 350 km from Chennai.


The incident took place when the devotees were bringing the chariot back from Appar Swamy Temple after three-day festivities. 


The villagers talking to ABP Nadu said, "The mishap took place since the electricity board failed to remove the high tension wires even after expanding the road." 

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Another villager said, "Until last year, we were taking the chariot only through a narrow passage. The high extension wires will be present near the road. However, this year, the road was expanded but the wires remained on the road. The temple authorities without taking it into concern took the chariot through the expanded road. So, while negotiating a turn the chariot came in contact with an overhead line."


The villagers also said that there was a waterway nearby due to which more than 50 people could not go along with the chariot. So the waterway saved the people, they said.


The incident took place during Chithirai festivities held at Appar Swamy Temple in Kalliamedu of Thanjavur district. The villagers have been conducting the traditional festival for more than 93 years now. 

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