It wasn't stampede that killed devotees of Athi Varadar: TN govt

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday informed the Madras High Court that six devotees believed to have died in a stampede during the Lord Athi Varadar festival in Kancheepuram lost their lives due to some other reason.

The six devotees at the Devarajaswamy temple, where the festival was held, collapsed after completing the darshan in an area where there was no crowd, the additional advocate general said, opposing the five PILs alleging lack of crowd management and provision of basic amenities for those visiting the shrine.

He further informed the court that 2.75 lakh devotees had visited the temple on July 18 and till July 24, 34 lakh devotees had gone for worship.

Recording the submissions, a division bench of justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad wondered as to how 2.75 lakh people could have worshipped Athi Varadar on a single day if there had been no proper arrangements at the temple.

Moreover, it is the prerogative of the state and the district administrations to decide what kind of arrangements must be made for such events, the court said.

On the prayer seeking CISF or BSF security to the temple, the bench said such special forces cannot be sent to all the places.

The court then asked the additional advocate general as to whether devotees are allowed to worship the main deity Varadaraja Perumal also.

To this, the additional advocate general submitted that devotees were permitted to worship both the deities till July 18, but it has been temporarily stopped due to heavy crowd.

The authorities are discussing the possibilities of lifting the ban in view of Adi Pooram festival which commences on July 26.

The bench then posted the pleas to July 29 for passing orders.