Idukki (Kerala), May 1 (PTI) Eleven persons were injured in a lightning strike while returning after offering prayers at the historic Mangala Devi temple, located inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, on Friday, police said.
According to police, the injured include 10 devotees from Tamil Nadu and a police officer from Kumily here.
Thousands of devotees had visited the temple, which opens only once a year, for the Chitra Pournami festival jointly organised by the Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments.
The police said the incident occurred after 5 pm when pilgrims were descending the hill in vehicles and lightning struck the area, injuring the passengers.
The injured were rushed to a hospital in Kumily, where they were provided preliminary treatment.
The police officer, who sustained injuries to his arms, was later shifted to a hospital in Pala in Kottayam district.
Authorities said the condition of all the injured was stable and the devotees from Tamil Nadu were later shifted to a hospital in Theni.
Earlier, the Idukki district administration had warned pilgrims about the possibility of lightning strikes as summer rains have intensified in recent days. PTI TBA TBA ROH
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

