Seven dead and ten injured in stampede at a local temple near Thuraiyur in Trichy, PM Modi and BJP President Amit Shah pay condolences

A stampede at a local temple ceremony near Thuraiyur in Trichy district of Tamil Nadu on Sunday has resulted in the death of seven devotees and injured ten others.

The tragedy took place at the  'Karuppasamy' (a rural deity) temple in Muthampalayam village where hundreds of people had gathered for the 'padikasu' (temple coin) distribution ceremony that is held as a part of annual 'Chithira Pournami' festival.

The police reported that the stampede began when a section of devotees surged forward to collect the coins that were being distributed by the temple’s priest.

Distribution of coins is the primary event of the festival as devotees believe that keeping the temples coins within their homes will bring them prosperity. This belief draws a large number of devotees from in and around the village every year.
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The police officials informed that four out of the seven killed were women and had died on the spot. The others who were injured have been hospitalized.

PM Modi paid his condolences on the tragic incident taking to Twitter and extended his support to the kin of those who died by approving an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh.

Here’s what the Prime Minister tweeted:

Following Modi’s tweet, BJP President Amit Shah also paid his respects on the matter further offering help from the local BJP unit.

(With PTI inputs)