At least 11 killed, 15 injured by electrocution in Indian religious event
New Delhi, Apr 27 (EFE).- At least 11 people including two minors were electrocuted to death and 15 others injured on Wednesday during a religious procession in southern India when the top of a float in the parade came into contact with electric wire.
The incident took place in the early hours of Wednesday near a Hindu temple in Kalimedu, situated in the state of Tamil Nadu, when the religious chariot came into contact with power cables, killing 11 people and wounding 15, regional chief minister MK Stalin said in a statement.
Local media reported that the incident took place when the festival chariot was trying to take a turn and its topmost part touched a high-tension line, resulting in the nearby devotees getting electrocuted.
Police sources said that two of the deceased were children.
The religious procession has been carried out for more than a 100 years, and although usually the high-tension lines close to the temple were disconnected to prevent accidents, the precaution was not taken this time, as the floats were not expected to be tall enough to reach the wire.
However, an increase in the chariot’s height, which was unknown to the authorities, led to the incident, the sources told local broadcasters.
Social media images showed a charred and mangled float, although its central part – which is supposed to have touched the wire – seemed intact.
The regional government announced a compensation of 500,000 rupees (around $6,500) to the families of the deceased.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences after his incident.
“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,” he tweeted.
President Ram Nath Kovind also mourned the loss of lives in a social media message. EFE
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