At least 11 persons have died due to during the chariot procession at Appar Swami temple of Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur today.

"A total of 11 people have died. Three people died on the spot and seven died in the hospital. Another 15 people are injured and have been taken to Thanjavur Medical College for treatment. FIR has been filed and an investigation into the matter has started," said V. Balakrishnan Inspector General of Police, Tiruchi Range.

The police official said that the incident occurred after the temple car came in contact with a high voltage power line and went up in flames at Kallimedu village.

"Prima facie it suggests that some high tension wire came in contact with the temple carduring the annual chariot festival in the Kallimedu village," said Balakrishnan.

"The temple car was negotiating a turn and faced some obstacle before being reversed when it came in contact with the overhead line," he added.

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