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
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