Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Dec 13: It is learnt that a major tragedy that was waiting to happen at Subrahmanya, was averted with the timely action of volunteers.

During the car festival organized on Saturday December 11 at Subrahmanya, the chariot of Lord Subrahmanya, claimed to be the biggest in this region, was being pulled. Thousands of devotees were pulling the chariot with the help of canes tied to it. After the chariot moved for about 100 metres from the temple gate, a few persons, who were in the middle line of the chariot pullers, slipped and fell down because of the milling crowds. Sullia circle inspector of police, who was looking after law and order, was one among those who fell to the ground.

If the chariot had moved any further, about 20 persons, who had fallen down, would have been trampled, and more people would have fallen to the ground. The alert volunteers signalled the chariot to stop, and the person in charge of operating the brakes of the chariot, applied the same immediately. The people who had fallen down, were lifted thereafter, and the chariot moved ahead after a few minutes.