In Chennai, five priests passed away during the Panguni Uthiram festival. The Panguni Uthiram festival is going on in the Dharmarlingeshwarar temple since March 26. The tragic incident happened today (April 5) morning when the Natarajar Theerthavari ceremony was held.

All five people drowned in the temple pond during the ceremony. The Palavanthangal police arrived at the spot along with Fire and Rescue Services personnel after they were informed about the incident. They retrieved the bodies in the rescue operation and sent them to the Chrompet Government Hospital for autopsy.

The five victims were identified as Raghavan of Madipakkam, Yogeswaran of Keelkattalai, and Vanesh, Raghavan and R. Surya of Nanganallur. All of them are aged between 18-25 years. As per the reports, 25 priests were lifting the idol and walking in the temple pond for the ceremony. While some of them went to the deeper part of the pond, the others drowned while trying to save them.

Sources say this is the first time that the idol was brought to the temple pond for performing Theerthavari in the Dharmalingeshwarar pond. The Palavanthangal police have registered a case and are inquiring with the temple administration. Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed his condolences and announced Rs 2 lakh financial assistance for the families of the victims from the CM Relief Fund.