Five padayatra pilgrims to the Palani Murugan temple were killed on the spot and another man was seriously injured after a speeding SUV mowed them down near here today, police said.
A group of six men were proceeding to Palani by road from here and when they were crossing Maravanoor off here this morning, an SUV, which was proceeding to Dindigul from Chennai ploughed into them.
"Five men were killed on the spot and another person is unconscious and he is now in Tiruchirappalli Government Hospital," Deputy Police Superintendent G Vanitha told PTI.
On the reason for mishap, she said,"obviously, the driver fell asleep for some moments," adding the driver later identified as Sebastian was arrested and a case has been registered.
Annual padayatra to the temple in Palani is quite popular in Tamil Nadu. In the past too, similar mishaps had happened raising questions about the safety of pilgirms on busy highways.
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