One person died and 47 others were injured after they were stung by beetles, in two separate incidents, at Sundaraperumal Koil here, on Sunday.
According to sources, a group of devotees from the village was proceeding to the Arasalaru river bank to take part in a procession for the Chithirai festival at the Mariamman temple on West Main street of the village.
On the way, disturbed by the crowd, a swarm of black beetles from a pipal tree stung them. Sixteen persons who suffered injuries were rushed to the Sundaraperumal Koil primary health centre, where M Paramasivam (55) of East Main Street died. In the other incident, a group of 32 devotees proceeding to the banks of the Thirumalairajan river for the milk pot procession was stung by the beetles after they climbed up a coconut tree to pluck tender coconuts.
A team of doctors led by Dr Raghupathy, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, provided treatment to those injured. MLAs Sakkottai K Anbalagan (Kumbakonam) and R Duraikannu (Papanasam) visited them at the hospital.