Tiruchirappalli: In a tragic incident, seven people were killed and ten others gravely injured in a stampede during a temple near Thuraiyur yesterday.
The incident occurred during the annual Chithira Pournami festival held at the Karuppasamy temple in Muthiampalayam village.
According to media reports, hundreds of devotees were gathered for the temple coin, also known as padikasu, distribution ceremony, which is the main event of the festival. People believe keeping the temple coins at home in their cash box will bring prosperity.
When the coins were distributed people surged forward to collect them and this resulted in the stampede. Seven people died on the spot, while ten others were seriously injured. They have been hospitalised, said reports.
Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamilnadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami condoled the deaths and announced the victims’ family solatium of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh each, respectively. The CM also said Rs 50,000 would be given to the injured.
The matter was being probed and action would be taken against those responsible for the mishap, said district authorities.
Media reports said there was no effort to control the crowd nor was there enough security personnel to bring the situation under control.