VELLORE: Five devotees, including two teenage boys and a woman were electrocuted and 50 others sustained injuries when a 56-foot tall temple car of the Arulmighu Balasardhuleeswarar Thirukoil, famously known as Karupuleeswarar Temple, at Nellorepet in Gudiyattam came in contact with a high tension wire. The century-old temple car, which was taken out on a procession on the seventh day of the 10-day Chithirai Peruvizha, veered to its left when entering North Mada Street.
The top of the temple car touched a 11 KV high-tension line. The incident took place at 11:40 pm on Wednesday.
Elatharasan (24), Vilvanathan (55) and Vignesh (19) of Neloorepet in Gudiyattam, Karthikeyan (19) of Gudiyattam and Punitha (35) of Bhuvaneswaripet died after being electrocuted. Around 50 others were injured due to electrocution.
“The temple car was wet due to heavy rain the area had received. The wetness acted as a conductor and transmitted the high voltage current when the Kalasam touched the high tension line. The iron chain attached to the temple car and the rain water that had stagnated at the spot worsened the situation,” said a professor, who was part of the fact finding team constituted by the Collector. Several persons sitting on the temple car escaped with minor injuries as they jumped from it.
Rs 1 lakh aid for kin of deceased
Chennai: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday announced a solatium of ` 1lakh each to the families of five persons who were electrocuted in Gudiyattam. Expressing deep grief over the loss of lives, she said Rs 25,000 would be given to those who have suffered serious injuries and Rs 10,000 to those suffered minor injuries. She also announced a similar solatium to two persons who were electrocuted and three others injured when they were pulling a chariot during Santhanakoodu festival at Nagoor dargah.