Muslim leaders express shock over Thanjavur rath yatra tragedy

Story by ATV | Posted by Aasha Khosa | Date 27-04-2022

Muslim leaders

New Delhi

Muslim leaders, intellectuals, and prominent clerics have joined the countrymen in expressing shock over the death of 11 devotees who got electrocuted due to the sudden falling of high-tension wire on the rath yatra procession at a temple in the Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.

The President and the Prime Minister have expressed regret over the incident.

Prominent intellectual Professor Akhtar Al-Wasey expressed his deep sorrow over the incident. He said that Thanjavur is a very important land from a religious point of view. This accident is certainly very sad and painful. "It is a source of grief for the family and all of us. We hope that the government of Tamil Nadu will conduct an inquiry into how the power lines fell on the Rath Yatra and why no precautionary measures.

Prominent scholar Dr. Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmed said that this accident has caused irreparable human loss. “As President of the Interfaith Harmony Foundation of India, I am deeply saddened by this tragic accident. At the same time, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the injured.”

He urged the administration to take full care of those injured in the incident," he added.

Two children are also among the dead. Police said the incident took place when Chariot came in contact with a high transmission line in the temple of Appar Swami Temple in Thanjavur.

Chairman of All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, Syed Naseeruddin Chishty also condoled the deaths in the chariot procession and said, “It breaks my heart to hear about the tragic incident and the loss of lives during the temple yatra. I express my earnest commiseration to the bereaved families. May the departed souls of the tragedy rest in peace and may the Almighty God give the affected people the strength to endure this great pain.”

Mufti Manzoor Zia, head of Mumbai's International Sufi Caravan has asked the Central and State Governments to provide compensation to the families who have lost their kins. He also expressed his shock and regret over the incident and the administration must take all precautions before such rath yatras or religious congregations.

"The families of those killed in the accident should be compensated. We pray for the bereaved to bear the trauma which will surely be irreparable for them," he added. “The country stands with them.”