One killed, three injured as 100-ft-tall temple chariot crashes in Bengaluru

The 100-ft-tall chariot, part of the historical Madduramma temple, tilting moments before it crashed at Rayasandra on Saturday.
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A 24-year-old man was killed and three people were injured when a 100-ft-tall chariot, part of the historical Madduramma temple, crashed at Rayasandra in Parappana Agrahara on Saturday.

The chariot was being pulled by devotees towards the temple as part of the religious practice when the accident occurred.

The condition of one of the injured — a 16-year-old girl — is said to be critical, while the other two are out of danger and are undergoing treatment, a police officer said.

According to the police, two chariots were being pulled towards the temple as part of the annual fair. One chariot fell at Chikka Nagamangala, damaging a few vehicles parked on either side of the road. Hundreds of devotees who were pulling the chariot and handling the ropes had a narrow escape.

The second chariot crashed at Rayasandra due during heavy rain and gusty wind. “It happened for the first time in the history of 100 years,” Rakesh, a resident of Huskur and one of the organisers, said.

There was confusion initially among the police about the jurisdiction to take up the case. But the Hebbagodi police decided to take up both the cases and registered a case of death due to negligence against the organisers.

“There was negligence on the part of the organisers who did not follow safety measures while pulling the chariots,” the police said.