Seven devotees, including four women died and ten others injured in a stampede during a festival in Karuppanna Swamy Temple at Muthaiyampalayam near Thuraiyur here on Sunday.
Police said the stampede took place during the distribution of “Pidikaasu” (distribution of coins) event held as part of the “Chitra Pournami” festival at around 1040 hours this morning. Hundreds of devotees congregated at the temple surged ahead to pick up the coins resulting in the stampede.
The deceased were identified as A.Shanthi (50), S.Gandhayee (38), V.Poongavanam (50), R.Valli (35), R.Lakshmikanthan (60), K.Rajavel (55) and Ramar (50) hailing from Karur, Cuddalore, Salem, Namakkal and Villupuram districts.
The injured were admitted to the government hospital at Thuraiyur. Senior Revenue and police officials rushed to the temple and supervised the rescue operation. (UNI)
