4 dead, 8 injured as crane capsizes at temple festival in Tamil Nadu

RANIPET: Four people were killed, and eight others including a child were injured when a crane capsized during a temple festival at Nemili near Arakkonam in Ranipet district on Sunday night. Three people died on the spot while one more succumbed to injuries at a government general hospital on Monday morning. The deceased were identified as G Jothi Babu, 19, Muthukumar, 39, C Boobalan, 40 and Chinnaswamy, 42.Police said a few devotees, who were hanging from a crane through hooks pierced in their bodies, attempted to garland the chief deity of the Mavadiamman temple when the idol was taken on a car procession during the annual festival on Sunday. The crane, passing through a road full of potholes, lost control and capsized. Jothi Babu, a Class XII student who was hanging from the crane, fell down and died on the spot.Muthu, a daily wage worker, and Boobalan, an ice cream vendor, also came under the heavy vehicle and were crushed to death immediately. Nine others, including a girl, were injured in the accident. They were rushed to Arakkonam government hospital. One of the injured, identified as Chinnaswamy, was referred to Tiruvallur government general hospital where he succumbed to the injuries.The condition of the other eight injured, who are undergoing treatment at government hospitals at Arakkonam, Kancheepuram and Chennai, is said to be stable. Police booked the crane operator, identified as Murugan, under three different sections of the IPC and detained him for inquiries. Initial investigations revealed that the temple management had obtained necessary permission to hold the car festival but failed to ensure adequate safety measures. HR&CE minister P K Sekar Babu, who was in the district to participate in a temple festival at Arakkonam, said the departments of HR&CE, revenue and police will study the safety measures on the conduct of car festivals involving unconventional activities.