Sources have stated that four youths, who were carrying a palanquin with the idol of Our Lady of Velankanni along with several persons at Uvari in Tirunelveli district, were electrocuted on Thursday when the wooden structure decorated with colored metal foil came in contact with an overhead electric wire.
It is stated that the heavy wooden car with steel reinforcements, weighing more than 500 kg, fell on those who were carrying and supporting it with wooden poles and also on the devotees standing nearby. While D. Raja (31), J. Clive (25), N. Raj (19) and C. Nimoson (18) were electrocuted on the spot, 26 others suffered injuries.
Meanwhile a section of villagers have alleged that TANGEDCO had failed to switch off power supply during the procession and however, TANGEDCO officials have said no formal application to disconnect power was received from the festival organizers.
A senior TANGEDCO official has claimed that even then, they have disconnected the electric wires crossing the streets through which the car festival was to be conducted while ensuring power supply in the cables passing along the streets.
