Madurai: Five persons died in separate incidents during the Chithirai Festival in Tamil Nadu's Madurai on Friday, police sources said. While three deaths were due to drowning, one person was murdered and the other died due to suffocation allegedly in a stampede.
Lakhs of devotees from across Tamil Nadu gathered to witness the world-famous festival of Lord Kallazhagar's entry into the Vaigai River as part of the ritual on the occasion of Chithirai Festival on Friday. The idol of Lord Kallazhagar, the presiding deity of the Kallazhagar Temple, which is situated 21 km away from Madurai, was draped in green cloth to signify prosperity in the year ahead.
Police have made an elaborate arrangement along with the district administration and the municipal corporation. Many devotees, who had come to offer prayers and witness the ritual, took a dip at Vaigai River for Sami darshan.
Official sources said a 40-year-old man's body was recovered from the barrage in Alvarpuram area. Soon after which, two more bodies were seen floating in Kalpalam area of Vaigai River. All bodies were recovered with the help of the fire rescue department. While one has been identified as 18-year-old Premkumar from Joseph Nagar in Madurai's Vlacherry, police are yet to identify the other two bodies due to lack of information. All three bodies were taken to Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital for postmortem. Officials suspected that the three deaths were due to drowning.
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Another youth, Suriya Prakash (23) of MK Puram was found dead in Madichiam area this morning. Police said he had injury marks on his body. The youth had come to participate at the festival and the exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained, police said. Investigations are on in this connection. An auto driver, named Sudalaimuthu, who was visiting the Tirthawari program from Madurai Vadakku (North) Masi Road, died after he fainted due to suffocation in a stampeded caused by a pushing crowd, police sources said.
