Avaniapuram jallikattu | Spectator gored to death, over 80 participants injured
The Hindu
As many as 652 bulls and 294 bull-tamers participated in seven rounds of the event.
Madurai’s first bull-taming event of the Pongal season, the Avaniapuram jallikattu was held on January 14 amidst COVID-19 restrictions. One spectator was gored to death by a bull, and at least 80 participants were injured at the event.
The spectator, 19-year-old D. Balamurugan of Avaniapuram, was gored to death near the bull collection point. He was brought dead to Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital. Though the entry of visitors was regulated in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, local residents crowded the area near the bull collection point to watch the event. Most of them did not wear masks, and there was poor compliance to physical distancing norms.
Around 7.30 a.m., the event was flagged off by Tamil Nadu Ministers Palanivel Thiaga Rajan and P. Moorthy in the presence of Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan and Collector S. Aneesh Sekhar.