Village headman among 27 persons booked after seven persons get injured at Mayana Kollai festival in Vellore

The headman of Viruthampattu colony panchayat adjacent Katpadi successful Vellore was among 27 persons booked by Vellore North constabulary connected Tuesday implicit the wounded of 7 persons aft a 60-foot temple chariot toppled during the yearly Mayana Kollai festival held connected the banks of Palar River connected Monday.

Police said the colony headman K. Sridhar, 52, of Viruthampattu colony was 1 of the organisers of the yearly festival held connected the riverbed adjacent the caller autobus terminus, disconnected the Chennai - Bengaluru Highway (NH 48).

The constabulary said that arsenic per norms, temple chariots should not transcend 12 feet successful height. However, during the Mayana Kollai festival successful Vellore, chariots from Virudhambattu, Kazhinjur, and Mottur were reportedly astir 60 feet tall, resulting successful the collapse. “Strict enactment volition beryllium taken against those who interruption laws and postulation rules. Cases person been registered against those liable for the incident,” said N.U. Sivaraman, SP (Vellore).

Police said that based connected a ailment from D. Kasi, colony administrative serviceman (VAO), Viruthampattu village, cases were registered against 27 persons nether Section 125 (a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, that punishes immoderate idiosyncratic who acts rashly oregon negligently successful a mode that endangers quality beingness oregon idiosyncratic information of others. The punishment tin beryllium imprisonment of up to 3 months, a good up to ₹2,500, oregon some adjacent if nary existent harm is caused.

Initial enquiry revealed that the Mayana Kollai festival, 1 of the salient yearly events successful the region, was held connected the Palar riverbank connected Monday. As portion of the celebrations, deities from 10 villages were decorated, placed connected temple chariots, and taken successful procession to the riverbed wherever devotees performed accepted rituals and offerings.

Police said that during the procession, 1 of the chariots tilted sideways. In the impact, 7 persons were injured. The incidental happened astir 11.30 p.m connected Monday. The constabulary and devotees rescued the injured and rushed them to Government Medical College Hospital successful Vellore.

On being informed, V.R. Subbulaxmi and SP Mr. Sivaraman inspected the spot. Later, Ms. Subbulaxmi besides met the injured persons astatine the infirmary earlier she ordered an enquiry into the incident.