Four devotees, all women, undertaking a padayatra were killed and three others were injured after they were run over by a car near the Siruvachur bridge in Perambalur district in the early hours of Saturday (January 31, 2026).
The accident occurred when a car, travelling from Chennai towards Tiruchi, hit the group of devotees who were walking along the road after crossing the Siruvachur bridge at 4.30 a.m., the police said. The devotees were on a padayatra to the Samayapuram Mariamman Temple.
The deceased were identified as Malarkodi, 35, Vijayalakshmi, 40, Chitra, 40, and Sasikala, 47. While Chitra hailed from Gengavalli, the others were natives of Thozharkudikadu village near Pennadam in Cuddalore district.
The police said three other devotees also suffered injuries in the accident. The driver of the car, Gautam, 24, a resident of Trisulam in Chennai, was arrested. He was reportedly returning to Tiruchi for personal work at the time of the accident.
A case has been registered, and further investigation is under way.
Published – January 31, 2026 11:43 am IST
