Compiled by C. ARUNO, ALIZA SHAH and R. ARAVINTHAN

       ELEVEN people were killed and 13 others seriously injured during an annual temple festival in Tamil Nadu when a chariot grazed an overhead power line, Makkal Osai reported.

       The 30-foot chariot was being pulled throughout the town by devotees, who were apparently trying to make a turn into a main road, when tragedy struck.

       Those present attempted to raise the overhead power line to avoid hitting it but the wheels on one side of the chariot became locked.

       When the devotees attempted to continue the procession by pulling the chariot, it turned in an unexpected direction, grazing the power line.

       Most of the victims had electric shocks.

       Among those who were killed instantly were two off-duty military personnel.

       Others suffered horrific injuries, including lost limbs, in the tragedy in Thanjavur city.

       Initial reports indicated that the organisers of the procession had not obtained the necessary approvals, including from the Fire and Rescue Department.

       The state government announ-ced financial assistance would be given to the injured and the families of the deceased.

       The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.