Avaniyapuram Jallikattu competition begins in Madurai, teenage spectator gored to death, over 50 others injured

Nearly 641 bulls stormed into the arena at Avaniyapuram on Friday, signalling the commencement of the jallikattu competitions during the Pongal (harvest) festival in the district. 

Madurai: An 18-year-old spectator was fatally gored by a raging bull at the Avaniyapuram Jallikattu here on Friday. The popular bull-taming competition held on Pongal day in the district left about 59 people, including tamers, bull owners and spectators injured.

The teenager Balamurugan from Madurai was gored in the chest by a bull, said police. He was rushed to the Government Rajaji Hospital where he was declared as brought dead by the doctors, a senior police official said.

Nearly 641 bulls stormed into the arena at Avaniyapuram here on Friday, signalling the commencement of the jallikattu competitions during the Pongal (harvest) festival in the district. As the bulls rushed from the 'vaadivasal' (entry point), a number of youth swarmed around them hoping to clasp their arms around the animal's hump and ride to victory in the bull-taming competition.