Lightning Strike Injures Devotees at Historic Temple Festival

Eleven people, including ten devotees and a police officer, were injured by a lightning strike at the Mangala Devi temple during the annual Chitra Pournami festival. The incident occurred as attendees were leaving the Periyar Tiger Reserve. All injured persons are currently in stable condition.

On Friday, eleven individuals were injured in a lightning strike while returning from prayers at the historic Mangala Devi temple, situated within the Periyar Tiger Reserve on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. The injured included ten devotees from Tamil Nadu and a local police officer, according to police sources.

Thousands attended the temple's annual Chitra Pournami festival, organized by the Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments. The incident unfolded around 5 PM as pilgrims were leaving the temple in vehicles when lightning unexpectedly struck, injuring passengers. Emergency services swiftly transported the injured to a nearby hospital in Kumily for initial treatment.

The police officer, with injuries to his arms, was moved to a hospital in Pala, Kottayam district, while other affected devotees were later hospitalized in Theni. Authorities confirmed that all injured are stable, despite prior warnings by the Idukki district administration about potential lightning during intensified summer rains.