Crane crashes at Tamil Nadu temple festival, 4 dead

mangaloretoday.com / NDTV

Ranipet, Jan 23, 2023: Four people were killed and at least five others injured after a crane crashed at a temple festival in Tamil Nadu last evening, the police said.

The incident was reported from the Draupathi temple at Tamil Nadu’s Ranipet.

 

About eight people were on the crane to receive garlands from the devotees when the incident occurred.

Witnesses say the crane carrying idols of God and Goddesses crashed abruptly at around 8.15 pm. The procession was part of the Draupathi Amman festival which is held after Pongal.

A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows the crane - with people hanging on to it - collapsing to the ground.

Devotees at the temple run around in a panic as the crane comes crashing down.

Police said a case has been registered and investigation is on.

"A part of the crane was on higher ground. This soil imbalance appears to have caused the crane to topple. Investigation is underway," said Deepa Satyan, Superintendent of Police, Ranipet.

Ranipet Collector Bhaskara Pandiyan said the crane operator has been taken into custody.

"There was no permission or intimation for using the crane at the temple festival. It is a private temple," Mr Pandiyan said.