Thirteen persons, including the Deputy Director of Health, Thanjavur, were injured in a jallikattu held at Vallam in Thanjavur district on Tuesday. Three bulls released at the event fell into open wells and another bull fell into a stone quarry while running away from the arena. One of the bulls died.
The over five-hour long event saw the participation of 350 bulls brought from various places and 225 tamers.
The jallikattu started at 10.20 a.m. with a posse of police personnel deployed for security at the venue.
The event was held on the second day of the Tamil month ‘Maasi’, as per the customary practice. Double barricades were erected with wire meshes to bar onlookers from entering the arena. Veterinarians and medical teams were posted at the venue to examine the bulls and tamers.
Police sources said 13 persons were injured in the event. Three of the injured, including two spectators, were admitted to hospitals.
Deputy Director of Health, Subramanian, who was supervising the arrangements, was hit by a bull. He was admitted to a private hospital in the town, while the other two were admitted to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital. Ten bull tamers were treated as outpatients, officials said.
The event was held under the direct supervision of Collector A. Annadurai and the Superintendent of Police J. Mahesh. Around 400 police personnel were deployed at the venue.
