At least 11 people, including three minors, were electrocuted during a Hindu procession in southern India on Wednesday (April 27th) when the top of a chariot hit a power line, police said.
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“The top of the float, which was profusely decorated, hit the linewith high voltage, police officer V. Balakrishnan told AFP. The crowd used water to contain a fire which then broke out on the tank, according to early indications. At least 15 other people were hospitalized following the incident which occurred around 03:00 (2130 GMT) in the city of Thanjavur in the state of Tamil Nadu. The victims were part of the group pulling the tank.
Hundreds of worshipers took part in this religious procession which has taken place every year for almost a century. A senior police official told NDTV that the power line, which runs along the road to the temple where the procession was going, is usually cut for the occasion but was not cut this time. On Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared himself “deeply painedby this accident and announced aid of around 2,600 dollars for each family of the deceased.