Jallikattu events leave seven dead, nearly 300 injured in Tamil Nadu

At least seven people died in jallikattu events across Tamil Nadu. (File photo/PTI)

At least seven people, including spectators and a bull owner, died on Thursday in the jallikattu and other bull taming events being held across Tamil Nadu on Kaanum Pongal day.

Two bulls died too in separate incidents. While one bull died during the event in Pudukkottai, a bull owner and his bull died at Siravayal manjuvirattu in Sivaganga, the police said, PTI reported.

At the manjuvirattu in the Sivaganga district, Thaneesh Raja of Naduvikottai Keela Aavandhipatti village, who brought his bull to take part in the event died along with his bull after the animal fell into a farm well at Kambanur while running away from the arena.

Among other deceased, one person died in hospital of injuries after a bull gored him. Another victim was a spectator at the Alanganallur jalliikattu in Madurai, while two others died in separate jallikattu events in the central district.

A 30-year-old man died in an Eruthu Vidum Vizha, a variant bull race, held at Basthalapalli in Krishnagiri district, while a 45-year-old man died after being attacked by a bull at the jallikattu held at Sentharapatti in Salem district, according to a Times of India report.

About 130 people were injured in the manjuvirattu in which 150 baiters and 250 bulls participated. Around 148 persons including bull owners and tamers were injured in four separate jallikattu events in Tiruchirappalli, Karur, and Pudukottai districts.

In the Mahadeva Patti jallikattu in Pudukottai district, 607 bulls and 300 tamers participated. Ten persons including tamers and spectators were injured. About 19 persons were injured in the Vanniyan Viduthi jallikattu in Pudukottai district.