Five persons, including three women, died today when a sand-laden lorry collided with a bullock-cart, carrying the idol of Lord Sathyamurthy Perumal, presiding deity of the famous fort temple at Tirumeyyam near here.
The cart was carrying the palanquin with the idol back to the temple after the 'Chitra Pournami festival' and Theerthavari (sprinkling of holy water), at the Vellaiyaaru river, when the lorry collided with the cart.
Four persons were travelling in the cart, while nine others were walking behind, one of whom was killed in the mishap, police said.
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The cart was broken into pieces and the bullock also died.
The cart was carrying various pooja articles made of silver, and the deity was also adorned with precious jewels, officials said. The idol and pooja articles did not suffer any damage, they said.
The lorry was bound for Madurai from Pudukottai.
The temple is maintained and administered by the Archaeological Survey of India.The temple fort was constructed in 1687.
