Tiruvarur: In a tragic incident, at least 20 devotees suffered severe burns as they fell into a burning charcoal pit while crossing it during the annual temple festival at Thengudi village in Nannilam taluk in the district early today.
The annual Chithirai festival of the famous Mariamman temple at Thengudi village began on April 20. As part of the festival, fire-walking event was held this morning.
A group of 30 devotees, all hailing from Mela Thengudi village came carrying the idol of Kathavarayan Swamy in a decorated small wooden car (chapparam).
Carrying the decorated ‘chapparam’, the devotees descended into the burning charcoal pit at 5 am when one of the devotees fell and the others behind him began to fall in their hurry to cross the charcoal pit. As a result, they were stuck in the pit unable to get away. However, police and local villagers managed to pull all of them out.
In the mishap, at least 20 devotees including Senthil (40), Viswanathan (33), Rathinavel (35), Chandrasekar (45), Tamilarasan (30), Ranganathan (25), Jayaraman (65), Rajesh (25), Prabhu (24), Vignesh (24), Santhosh (20) suffered severe burns.
Eleven 11 of them were admitted to government medical college hospital in Tiruvarur while the rest were admitted to a private hospital in Tiruvarur.
Nannilam police have registered a case and further investigation is on.
The annual Chithirai festival of the famous Mariamman temple at Thengudi village began on April 20. As part of the festival, fire-walking event was held this morning.
A group of 30 devotees, all hailing from Mela Thengudi village came carrying the idol of Kathavarayan Swamy in a decorated small wooden car (chapparam).
Carrying the decorated ‘chapparam’, the devotees descended into the burning charcoal pit at 5 am when one of the devotees fell and the others behind him began to fall in their hurry to cross the charcoal pit. As a result, they were stuck in the pit unable to get away. However, police and local villagers managed to pull all of them out.
In the mishap, at least 20 devotees including Senthil (40), Viswanathan (33), Rathinavel (35), Chandrasekar (45), Tamilarasan (30), Ranganathan (25), Jayaraman (65), Rajesh (25), Prabhu (24), Vignesh (24), Santhosh (20) suffered severe burns.
Eleven 11 of them were admitted to government medical college hospital in Tiruvarur while the rest were admitted to a private hospital in Tiruvarur.
Nannilam police have registered a case and further investigation is on.