During a Jallikattu event at Avaniyapuram in Madurai, about 60 people were hurt, leaving 20 severely injured who are undergoing treatment, senior district officer Aneesh Shekhar said on Monday. "Yesterday, we had around 60 injured people, 20 were a little serious and were referred to Rajaji Hospital. 40 others with minor injuries were given first aid. There has been no casualty," said the Madurai District Collector as per NDTV reports.
The celebrations continued to go on as the event wrapped by 4pm despite the incident, the official said adding that all arrangements have been put into place for the safety of the spectators as well as the participants. The official also said that they expect no injuries and will ensure the best medical care in case of any.
A revenue department official was quoted saying to media, out of the 20 injured sent to Madurai's Government Rajaji Hospital, 11 were still undergoing treatment there.
Earlier, over a dozen of people were injured on Saturday in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor district during the Jallikattu festival, the famous bull-taming sport reported India Today.
Also known as 'Eru Thazhuvuthal' and 'Mancuvirattu', Jallikattu started in full swing in three villages of Tamil Nadu's Madurai on Sunday. The sport is played during the Pongal-harvest time in mid-January. It is largely a part of Mattu Pongal in Tamil Nadu where 'mattu' refers to the third day of the four-day-long harvest festival.
The local bull-taming sport includes a participant who is supposed to grab the bull by its horns and tame it as it tries to shrug him off. Over the years, several people have reportedly been injured and killed during the famous bull-taming sport across southern states, after which the court banned it. However, the 2017 ordinance was made to continue with the same.
The first Jallikattu event of the year commenced with fanfare in the Pudukkottai District of Tamil Nadu on January 8, witnessing the active participation of young men. State Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Siva V Meyyanathan, and Minister for Law, S Regupathy inaugurated the Jallikattu event. Further Jallikattu events are scheduled to be held in Palamedu and Alanganallur on Monday and Tuesday. Only 300 bull tamers and 150 spectators are allowed in a Jallikattu event.
