Two devotees collapsed and died while standing in queues at Thiruchendur and Rameswaram temples on 16th and 18th March, respectively, triggering outrage over inadequate facilities at temples. This tragic death reveals Tamil Nadu’s HR&CE department for negligence, demanding government withdrawal from temple administration and improved amenities for devotees.
On 16th March, a 50-year-old devotee from Karaikudi collapsed and died while standing in a queue to obtain a darshan ticket at the Subramaniaswamy Temple in Thiruchendur. On March 18, a 59-year-old devotee from Rajasthan died after collapsing while waiting in a queue at the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram.
Although these incidents appear isolated, several cases of devotees collapsing due to prolonged standing, breathlessness, and poor ventilation in congested queue rows leading to the temple sanctum have been reported.
A devotee identified as Sanniyasi Ra Doss from Rajasthan had arrived at the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram on the morning of March 18 to have darshan of the Spatika (Crystal) Lingam. While standing in the queue, he became trapped in the crowd, collapsed, and lost consciousness. Doctors declared him dead on arrival.
இன்று காலை ராமேஸ்வரம் ராமநாதசுவாமி திருக்கோவிலில் தரிசனத்திற்கு சென்று கூட்ட நெரிசலில் சிக்கி பக்தர் மரணம் அன்று திருச்செந்தூர் இன்று ராமேஸ்வரம்
திருப்பதியில் எவ்வளவு நேரம் ஆனாலும் நிற்க்கும் உங்களால் திருச்செந்தூர்ல் நிற்க்க முடியவில்லையா ? என்று கேட்ட சேகர்பாபு போன உயிர்… pic.twitter.com/CY2fM3xv9P— K.Ashok adv (@ashok777_kalam) March 18, 2025
In another incident, R. Omkumar (50) from Karaikudi in Sivaganga district died while waiting in the Rs 100 darshan queue at the Lord Subramania Swamy Temple in Thiruchendur on March 16. His wife, K Malarvizhi, and daughter, Kanishka, requested the government not to conduct an autopsy.
Tamil Nadu’s HR&CE Minister P K Sekar Babu, addressing the media, dismissed concerns, stating that when crowds are large, devotees must stand for long hours. He sarcastically remarked, “Can’t they wait 24 hours at Tirupati to have darshan of Lord Balaji?” His response deeply wounded devotees.
ஹிந்து ஒழிப்பு மாநாடு நடத்திய இவனை போல சிலலறைகள் எல்லாம் அமைச்சராக ஆனால் இப்படி தான் ஆகும் pic.twitter.com/gTvdHR1oOM
— Sanghi Prince 🚩 (@SanghiPrince) March 18, 2025
Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K. Annamalai strongly criticised DMK government and the HR&CE department on social media, stating, “If the HR&CE cannot provide basic facilities to avoid long queues but is only interested in looting revenue from Hundiyal (donation boxes), the Minister should take responsibility for these deaths. The government must immediately relinquish control over temples.”
Annamalai further lambasted the Tamil Nadu government for failing to ensure essential amenities such as drinking water, toilets, air conditioning, and proper queue management. He pointed out the lack of chairs or benches like those in Tirupati, alleging that the administration prioritises increasing ticket revenue and temple earnings while neglecting maintenance and renovations. He accused the HR&CE officials of misusing temple funds for luxurious personal benefits while neglecting temple upkeep. In Thiruchendur, where lakhs of devotees visit daily, basic facilities remain inadequate.
The Hindu Munnani also condemned the state government and HR&CE for failing to provide necessary amenities and criticised the Minister’s sarcastic remarks. In Tiruvannamalai, an elderly woman was mistreated when denied a wheelchair. A viral video showed her relatives narrating their distressing experience, alleging that temple staff had abused the senior citizen and denied entry to a disabled devotee. They also accused the police of arbitrarily diverting private vehicles while allowing autorickshaws.
Hindu Munnani further criticised HR&CE Minister Sekar Babu for focusing more on praising the Chief Minister and his son rather than ensuring proper temple administration. They urged the Tamil Nadu government to learn from BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, where major religious events such as the Maha Kumbh are conducted efficiently.
Calls for temples to be freed from state government control have intensified following its failure to provide basic facilities comparable to those at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), where pilgrims have a hassle-free darshan with waiting rooms, toilets, drinking water, and medical emergency support.
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