Four devotees die at Sathuragiri, officials say all are natural deaths

The Aadi Amavasai festival at the Sathuragiri hill temple attracts lakhs of devotees from Madurai and several other districts across the State. This year, the festival commenced on July 27 and was conducted for six days.

Anticipating a huge turnout, the district administration made elaborate arrangements for the convenience of devotees. On the first day, Rajasekar, a 50-year-old devotee from Usilampatti, reportedly died of cardiac arrest near Vana Pechi Amman temple. On July 30, Santhanam (47), a resident of Madurai South Gate, died of health complications. The subsequent day, Murugan (47), a devotee from Chittoor village near Tirumangalam in Madurai district, fell unconscious while nearing Santhana Mahalingam Thoppu. The same day, a 60-year old devotee from Karpaga Nagar in Madurai died of cardiac arrest, said officials. Considering the acute water scarcity in the hill region and dry bore wells due to poor rainfall, the High Court Bench a few days ago imposed restrictions on organising annadhanam by private parties in the forest region where the temple is located.

Apart from consumption, there would be a huge requirement of water for devotees to take bath after tonsuring their heads as mark of fulfilling their vow. Except for Thaniparai, the permitted route for devotees through the forest area on the foothills of Sathuragiri, entry through Vazhathoppu near Saptur was initially restricted. After widespread protests, the Vazhathoppu stretch was opened for devotees. Besides, devotees from Theni and its surroundings took Varusanadu route to access the Sathuragiri hill temple, sources said.

When contacted about the deaths, officials in Madurai maintained that all the victims died of illness.