Chennai: Four elderly women were killed and a dozen others injured when a saree distribution event led to a stampede in Tamil Nadu’s Tirupattur district on Saturday.
According to police, a large number of women had gathered in Vanniyambadi to collect tokens to receive sarees and veshti (vests), which were being distributed by a man identified as Aiyappan ahead of ‘Thaipoosam’ festival. It is a celebration of the Hindu community on the occasion of full moon in the Tamil month of Thai.
In the uncontrollable rush to collect free sarees and vests, there was pushing and jostling in the queues. As panic grew, some were crushed under the feet of those who were desperately trying to escape the pandemonium. Many were injured and some lost consciousness.
“Four women died in a stampede where many people had gathered to receive tokens for the collection of free ‘Veshtis’ and sarees being distributed by an individual on the occasion of Thaipusam in Tiruppattur’s Vaniyambadi,” Thirupathur police officials were quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
ANI quoted a police official as saying that the event was being organised without taking permission.
“No permission was given to hold this event. We are investigating the matter and action will be taken in accordance with the law,” said SP Thirupathur.
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