Temple chariot grazes power line, 11 persons electrocuted to death in TN

Thanjavur: Eight men and 3 teenage boys were killed and 17 others injured on Wednesday near here due to electrocution when a temple chariot came in contact with a High Tension electricity line during a procession, police said.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi and CM MK Stalin expressed shock and grief over the killings. Modi announced Rs 2 lakh each from PM’s National Relief Fund to the next of kin of those who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 to those injured.

Chief Minister Stalin, condoling the deaths, ordered a solatium of Rs 5 lakh each to the 11 bereaved families. The incident occurred early today when the Appar temple’s chariot procession was passing through the ThanjavurBoodalur Road, local authorities said.

The accident happened when the chariot’s top portion grazed through the HT transmission line, they said. (PTI)