Over 60 people sustain injuries in event held after four years

Two spectators were killed and 69 others injured at the jallikattu held on the Sri Muthumariamman temple grounds at Tiruvappur in the town on Sunday.

The festival was organised after a four-year gap and a large number of bulls had been brought in from various parts of Pudukottai, Tiruchi, Madurai and adjoining Sivaganga district.

In all, 350 bulls were registered for the event and about 500 young tamers took part.

Two spectators, S. Wasim Akram (20) of Kamarajapuram and M. Vellaisamy (50) of Ellaipatti, were gored to death. While Wasim Akram succumbed to injuries on the spot, Vellaisamy died on the way to the Government Headquarters Hospital here.

Of the injured, 34 persons were given first-aid on the spot and referred to the Government Headquarters Hospital. Three persons — M. Senthilkumar (34) of Melakayampatti, D. Alex (17) of Namanasamuthiram village and M. Veeraraghavan (20) of Aranthangi — were referred to Thanjavur Medical College and Hospital.

Earlier, District Collector S. Ganesh inaugurated the event. Superintendent of Police J. Loganathan supervised the arrangements.

Bulls go berserk

Elaborate arrangements had been made for the safety of bull-tamers. Barricades had been set up for about 300 metres, but the bulls went berserk well beyond this boundary, ramming into a crowd of spectators.Shortly after news about the death of the two individuals was received, the organisers suspended the event.