Tamil Nadu: 4 women killed, 11 injured in stampede to get free saree during event

New Delhi: Four elderly women were killed and 11 others injured in a stampede near Vaniyambadi in Tamil Nadu’s Tirupattur district. It is being told that this stampede took place during a saree distribution program. A Tirupattur police official said that on the occasion of Thaipusam in Vaniyambadi today, a program to distribute free ‘vesti’ and sarees was organized by a person. Four women were killed in a stampede while collecting tokens to get ‘vesti’ and sarees.

Meanwhile, expressing grief over the incident, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the women who lost their lives in the stampede. A crowd of over 1,000 women is reported to have gathered during the Thaipusam festival to get free sarees. Thaipusam is a festival celebrated by the Hindu Tamil community on the full moon day in the Tamil month of Thai.

Earlier, a private organization had announced that it would distribute expensive sarees on the occasion of Thaipusam. A large number of women assembled, leading to a stampede situation. Of the many people admitted to the hospital, four died during treatment.