Delay in procession, skipping of mandagapadis led to stampede

Taking the deity in different lane led to sudden surge of crowd at Goripalayam junction

An inordinate delay in starting Lord Kallazhagar's procession from Tallakulam towards Vaigai riverbed, the consequent skipping of mandagapadi's and the apparent inadequate strength of police are said to be the lacunae leading to the stampede at Goripalayam junction on Saturday that claimed lives of two devotees during the Chithirai festival.

While all the officials, including police, complained about the ‘unprecedented’ size of crowd, a day after the stampede the police and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments officials were blaming each other for the blunder.

While lakhs of devotees from Madurai and neighbouring district are seen in the path of Lord Kallazhagar right from Alagarkoil to Vandiyur, the crowd is staggered all through the route upto Tallakulam. People wait at the mandagapadis and also on road sides to have glimpse.

“But, when the Lord stays at Tallakulam temple from night (Friday) till past midnight (Saturday) before proceeding to riverbed, the entire stretch of Alagarkoil Road from Tallakulam Outpost to Goripalayam will be packed by people through out the night,” an officer said.

Had the procession of Lord Kallazhagar on golden horse started on time and the officials stuck to the scheduled halts for few minutes in the over 20 mandagapadis upto Goripalayam junction, a section of the crowd would have melted, the police said.

"At least 500 to 1,000 devotees assemble at the mandagapadis and most of them do not follow the Lord. This would have reduced the crowd at Goripalayam junction," the officer said.

But, HR and CE officials had reportedly complained about lack of adequate police considering the larger crowd which slowed down the pace of the procession.