In a tragic incident during the annual Manjuvirattu (bull chase) competition held as part of the Masi Magam festival on Monday, three people, including a resident of Rajasthan, were gored to death by bulls while at least 75 others sustained injuries.
According to police, more than 600 bulls were released at the competition venue, leading to a stampede-like situation among spectators. The deceased have been identified as Jammulal Lalji, an ice-cream vendor from Rajasthan, Ramanathan from Nattar Mangalam, and Rajendran from the Pudukkottai area. All three reportedly died on the spot.
Authorities stated that at least 75 individuals, including spectators and bull tamers, were injured in the incident and admitted to nearby hospitals. Of them, eight were referred to tertiary care centres for specialised treatment. The identities of several injured persons were not immediately available.
A total of 112 bull tamers had registered to participate in the event. Manjuvirattu, a traditional bull-chasing sport similar to Jallikattu, has become an integral part of the Masi Magam celebrations in several parts of Tamil Nadu and typically draws large crowds each year.
Following the incident, police teams rushed to the venue and launched an investigation. Officials from the civil administration are also conducting an on-site inspection to assess whether adequate safety and crowd-control measures were in place during the festival.
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