During the consecration (Kumbhabhishekham) of 1997, 48
people were killed in a fire accident and 86 others injured. The incident
occurred hours before the Mahakumbabishekam ceremony. It is believed a fire
cracker lit near the temple fell on the yagasala, a temporary structure built
to accommodate the ritual ceremonies, and sparked the fire that spread to the
thatched roofs.A stampede resulted when the panic-stricken devotees rushed the
only entrance to the temple on the eastern side. However, another version
claimed the fire was caused by a spark from the electric generator. Most of the
deaths were reported be caused by the inhalation of carbon monoxide and a few
due to burn injuries. The Tamil Nadu Government announced a compensation of Rs
100,000 to the families of the deceased and the injured were paid from Rs 10,000
to Rs 50,000 each.
There is widespread belief that a visit to the temple has
politically disastrous implications – the claim is supported by a few events. A
visit to the temple for an event related to King Rajaraja by former Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi along with the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M G
Ramachandran in 1984 was followed by bad course of events later for both the
leaders – Mrs Gandhi was assassinated by her own bodyguards in October that
year, and MGR fell seriously ill with a stroke. Following the taboo,
Karunanidhi, visited the site of the fire accident via the side entrance. He
denied the report stating he does not subscribe to the belief. He also added
that he had used a side entrance to the temple instead of the main one while
visiting the accident spot, the way by which he was escorted by police
officials. Contrary to belief he believed he had scored resounding political
victories after his earlier visits to the temple.
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