Four devotees, including a temple volunteer, drowned in a stampede when they were taking dip at Ayyankula Theertham as part of Mahodaya Punyakala Theerthavaari that comes once in 26 years, on Monday.
Utsava Murthi of Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple was taking Theerthavaari at 6.30 am and thousands of devotees tried desperately to take dip at the same time in the pond. The handful of police personnel standing at the spot could do nothing to prevent them. The crowd barged into the pond in desperation to take a dip at the same time and in the melee, those in the front fell and the crowd stomped on them. While the priests were rescued instantly another devotee called Punyakoti (52) of Durabali Street here, was also rescued but he died after some time.
Sources in fire and rescue services said the temple administration had not asked for assistance as a precautionary measure. Hence they were called in only after the incident took place.
The dead were identified as Manikandan (32), an engineering college lecturer and volunteer, a resident of Ayyankula Street, Siva (30) an IT professional and native of Kallakkurichi, and Venkataraman (30) of Ammani Amman Kupuram Street here.
There were no safety arrangements like hand railings or, life jackets in the pond. Hindu Munnani District President Shankar condemned the temple administration for lack of arrangements and lack of police protection.
