Eleven persons, including three boys, died due to electrocution during a religious procession at Kalimedu near here on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
Inquiries reveal that the victims were participating in a chariot procession organised in memory of Tamil Saivaite saint Thirunavukkarasar, by a local prayer club formed and run by the villagers for more than nine decades, when the accident took place.
The 25 to 30-feet electrical serial bulb decoration on the cart unexpectedly came into contact with the high-voltage line passing through the village, around 2-45 a.m.
In the impact, the cart went up in flames, damaging the idol of Sri Apparperuman (Saint Thirunavukkarasar) that was placed on the cart.
The decorated hand-pulled cart was on its way back to the hall after the culmination of the night-long procession that commenced on Tuesday night.
While 10 persons died on the spot, 13 others were rushed to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital.
Later, around 7 a.m., Bharanitharan, 13, one among the injured persons, died at the hospital.
President condoles death
President Ram Nath Kovind condoled the death of 11 persons in the Kalimedu fire tragedy.
PM expresses anguish, announces relief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed his anguish over 11 people getting electrocuted during the chariot procession in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district.
“Deeply pained by the mishap in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I hope those injured recover soon,” the Prime Minister said. He also announced ₹2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of those who lost their lives. The injured would be given ₹50,000, the Prime Minister annuonced.
Governor expresses grief
Tamil Nadu Governor R.N .Ravi expressed grief and conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, the Tamil Nadu, according to a Raj Bhavan press release
TN CM announces relief
Earlier, Chief Minister Stalin announced ₹5 lakh solatium from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund to the victims’ families. The Chief Minister will be visiting the hospital to enquire those who were injured in the Kalimedu village fire accident. Mr. Stalin directed the authorities to provide the the best medical care to the injured.
AIADMK relief
The AIADMK, in a statement issued by O. Panneerselvam, coordinator, and Edappadi K. Palaniswami, co-coordinator, announced the payment of solatium of ₹1 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and ₹ 25,000 each to the injured.
The two leaders urged the State government to render all the assistance to affected people of the Kallimedu village.
Another release of the party said the Iftaar party, scheduled for the day, stood postponed to April 28.
The sidelined former interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala, and the general secretary of the AMMK, T.T.V. Dhinakaran, expressed their condolences.
( With inputs from Nistula Hebbar)
