Two workers were killed when a temple chariot of Sri Kailasa Nayaki Samedha Kannayiramudaiyar Temple at Thirukaravasal fell on them after it got caught in slush during a temple festival here on Friday. The Vaikasi Visaka Brahmotsvam of the Sri Kannayiramudayar temple, 15 km from here on the road to Tiruthuraipoondi, is being celebrated at the temple that is among the Sapta Vidanga Kshetrams.
This temple’s processional deity Sri Tyagarajar is hailed as the Aadhi Vidangar and the specific dance of the Lord Tyagaraja in this shrine is termed ‘Kukooda Natanam’.
As part of the Brahmotsavam, the temple chariot festival was held on Friday with Sri Tyagarajar being taken along the temple streets in the processional car pulled by hundreds of devotees.
Rain over the past few days had left the path slushy and the chariot got caught in it.
To pull the chariot out of the slush devotees tugged at the rope with the assistance of a tractor but it fell on its side because of its weight.
Two workers who were placing logs at the wheels of the chariot to control the speed and direction of the vehicle, Kalyanasundaram (58) of Tiruvarur and Murugaiyyan (49) of Marudapadi, got trapped under its wheels.
Rescuers with great difficulty extricated them, but Murugaiyyan died on the spot, while Kalyanasundaram died on the way to hospital.
Superintendent of Police T. Jeyachandran, Revenue Divisional Officer R. Muthumeenakshi and other officials rushed to the spot and conducted an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the accident.
The devotees were upset at the sudden turn of events and the chariot festival was stopped. The ancient temple and its deity have been glorified by Saint Thirunavukkarasar and Saint Thirugnanasambandar in their hymns.
