A temple chariot approximately 60 feet tall overturned during the annual Kollai festival on the banks of the Palar River in Vellore district, Tamil Nadu, injuring seven people.
The incident occurred around midnight during the annual Kollai festival, a major religious event in South India, held on the banks of the Palar River in Vellore district. According to police, the chariot had arrived from Kanjizur village near the Katpadi area and was being pulled from the riverbed towards the road after a ritual procession when it lost balance and tilted to one side before overturning. Devotees standing nearby were caught under it.
The injured were immediately taken to the Government Medical College Hospital in Adukkamparai, where they are undergoing treatment. District Collector Subbulakshmi, Superintendent of Police Shivaraman, and Revenue Divisional Officer Senthil Kumar visited the site and supervised relief operations.
The Mayana Kollai festival is one of the major annual religious events in Vellore district. The festival is held on the banks of the Palar River, where idols of deities from around 10 nearby villages are placed on decorated chariots and taken out in procession. Devotees perform traditional rituals along the riverbank and offer prayers. Thousands of people participate in the event.
Under state government rules, temple chariots used in public events should not exceed 12 feet in height. However, the chariot involved in the incident was reported to be approximately 60 feet tall. Following the incident, questions have been raised regarding safety standards and administrative oversight. Experts stated that additional caution should have been exercised while pulling such a tall and heavy chariot from the uneven riverbed to the road. Preliminary investigation has identified loss of balance as the main cause of the accident, while a detailed inquiry is ongoing.
A similar incident occurred in 2023 during the Kollai festival in the Palar River area when a chariot fell. At that time, the administration had stated that safety measures would be strictly enforced. Following two consecutive incidents, pressure has increased on the local administration to ensure clear guidelines and strict compliance for future events.
