Three people were crushed to death and 9 seriously injured as a crane suddenly collapsed during a temple festival in Tamil Nadu’s Nemili near Arakkonam in Ranipet district on Sunday night.
A video of the tragic incident in the Ranipet district shows complete chaos breaking out in the area with panic-stricken people caught completely unawares shrieking in horror.
3 killed after crane topples at temple.
India Today’s @PramodMadhav6 gets us all the details#FirstUp| @PoojaShali pic.twitter.com/62lIsw9sVh— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) January 23, 2023
The crane was carrying an idol of a deity and villagers were taking turns to pay their obeisance and offer prayers. Around eight people were on the crane for receiving garlands from the devotees. The procession was part of the Draupathi Amman festival that is held after Pongal.
The incident took place at 8:15 pm. The police said the deceased were identified as K. Muthukumar, 39, S. Bhoopalan, 40, and B. Jothibabu, 17, according to a report in The Hindu.
There was a girl child among the seriously injured who have been admitted to Punnai Government Primary Health Centre, Arakkonam Government Hospital and a private hospital for treatment.
The crane driver has been arrested.
At the time of the accident, around 1500 devotees were present in the vicinity of the crane, according to local officials.
