DINDIGUL
Two persons were killed on the spot and 10 others, including two children, were injured as crackers burst unexpectedly during the annual festival of the Madurai Veeran Temple at Sakkiliyankottai village near Natham in the early hours of Wednesday.
The deceased were Selvaraj (35) of Komanampatti and Ganesan (35) of Old Batlagundu – both were contractors selling crackers and conducting cracker festivals.
Two of injured, Kavya (3) of Pichampatti and Divya (5) of Sakkiliyankottai, were admitted to Dindigul Government Headquarters Hospital, from where Kavya was referred to Madurai Government Rajajai Hospital. Another grievously injured person, Chelladurai of Komanampatti, was rushed to Natham Government Hospital. The others were treated in a local hospital.
The contractors had stocked crackers worth ₹1.5 lakh for the festival behind the temple. While they were arranging the crackers, a spark suddenly fell on the stock and the crackers started bursting in no time. Flames engulfed the temple campus and also the spectators waiting near the temple to witness the cracker fatival. Within minutes, fire spread, and devotees ran for safety, said eye witnesses.
Sanarpatti police have registered a case and are investigating.
