Eleven people have died after being electrocuted at a Hindu festival parade in southern India, police say.

The tragedy happened in Thanjavur when their crowded truck, which was decorated as a temple chariot, touched an overhead power line and was set on fire by an electrical spark, the New Delhi Television channel reported.

Three other people suffered burns and were treated in hospital in the city.

The country’s prime minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he was “deeply pained by the mishap”.

“My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I hope those injured recover soon,” he added.

The temple chariot procession was organised by a local temple and took place about 210 miles south of Chennai, the state capital of Tamil Nadu.

The city of Thanjavur is known for its old temples and is an important centre of Indian religion, art and architecture.

Read more:
Three people die after cable car accident in India
Well collapse at wedding in India kills 13 people

Related posts:

Deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi charged with second offence People want to see missing Dubai princess is ‘alive and well’, says Raab ‘A man of great purpose and conviction’: World leaders pay tribute to Prince Philip Remote tribe who hailed Prince Philip as a god to mark his death with ritual wailing Top Chinese official admits efficacy of China’s vaccines is low Israel-Gaza conflict is Biden’s first major test in Middle East – but will diplomacy prevent war? Universal sorry after dubbing trans actress with man’s voice Anticyclone ‘Lucifer’ and heat domes – why is the world battling extreme weather? Egyptian president and Israeli PM have talks in first formal meeting between two countries in over a decade South African president tests positive for coronavirus amid countrywide spread of Omicron variant A dozen crack Russian military units redeployed from Mariupol as Kyiv claims to have rearmed blockaded district with daring night-time helicopter drop What weapons does Zelenskyy want from the west ahead of top US officials’ visit to Ukraine?