THOOTHUKUDI: A 48-year-old farmer cheering a bullock cart race (locally called rekla race) held at Seithunganallur in Tamil Nadu was killed when a cart veered off the racetrack and ploughed into the audience on Sunday.
The man was identified as Anthony (48). He died on the way to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.
Rekla races are being held across Tamil Nadu following the success of the Jallikattu protest spearheaded by students. The races, popular during the harvest season in Tamil Nadu, involve racing bulls drawing makeshift carts. Winning drivers are given prizes.
As many as nine large carts and 17 small ones were involved in the Rekla races organised in Seithunganallur on Sunday. The competition was flagged off by local VIPs of the AIADMK party.
Local sources said that soon the small cart race was flagged off, one bullock cart veered away from track while overtaking the leader and careened into the audience. Anthony was directly in its path and received head injuries.
There were no ambulances or paramedical practitioners present at the venue. So fellow spectators put Anthony in an autorickshaw and drove him to the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital. He died before receiving medical attention, sources said.