3 killed in Eruthu Vidum Vizha at Krishnagiri

However, police sources claimed that only one of the victim died of an injury in the race. Two others died of cardiac arrest and suffocation, they added. 

According to police L Sanmoorthi (34) of Pachal village near Puliyankuttai in Tirupattur, who came to witness the event succumbed to head injury. It was learnt that his leg got tangled to one end of the long rope tied to a bull and he was accidentally pulled down. He suffered an injury on his head and was rushed to Krishnagiri Government Hospital where he died. 

In the event, it was learnt that another 60-year-old unidentified man also succumbed to injury caused by a bull that hit straight on his face. Onlookers said he died on the spot. However, police claimed that he suffered a cardiac arrest and fell down and later succumbed to the heart attack. Police added that his body has been taken to the hospital for post-mortem and efforts were on to identify him. 

Meanwhile in another incident, J Sathyaraj (25) of MGR Nagar in Rayakottai in Krishnagiri district was said to have died of suffocation in the crowd during the Eruthu Vidum Vizha at Rayakottai. Police said that the youth, who was in an inebriated condition, suffered breathing difficulty due to the heavy crowd and he collapsed. He was rushed to a private hospital there, but was declared brought dead. 

Around 70 bulls from Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Vellore districts and the nearby states took part in the races organised on the Krishnagiri Main Road. The race which commenced around 1 pm went on till 5 pm. Prizes to the tune of several lakhs of rupees were given to the winning bulls. The bull event was last conducted in 2008 and was held this year after the lifting of ban.