New Delhi: At least four women died and several others were injured due to suffocation in a stampede after a massive crowd gathered at a saree shop to collect free tokens ahead of Thaipoosam festival in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, news agency ANI reported.
According to the report, the incident took place when nearly 2000 women had gathered to collect the tokens at a saree shop in Vaniyambadi in Tirupattur district on Saturday.
As the massive crowd led to a stampede like situation, as many as 16 women lost consciousness due to suffocation. They were rushed to a nearby government hospital where four of them passed away. All four deceased were above 60 years of age.
According to the report, Tamil Nadu Police SP Balakrishna reached the spot and an ordered an investigation into the matter. The owner of the private firm, Iyappan, who had arranged for the distribution of free tokens has been taken into custody.
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As per police officials, the four women died in the stampede where many people had gathered to collect tokens for the collection of free 'Veshtis' and sarees being distributed by an individual on the occasion of Thaipoosam in Tirupattur’s Vaniyambadi.
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin expressed his grief over the unfortunate incident and announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the people who sustained injuries, ANI reported.
It is to be noted that Thaipoosam is a festival celebrated by the Hindu Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai.
Police said locals were seen splashing water on the faces of those who lost consciousness during the incident even as ambulances reached the spot to rush the injured to the hospital. Further investigation on the matter is underway, police added.