Devotee dies after Athi varadar darshan; cop on duty faints

Chennai: A 68-year-old person died on Tuesday after visiting Sri Devarajaswamy temple in Kancheepuram for darshan of Athi Varadar. The deceased has been identified as Rathinam (68) of Nilgiris district. According to police, she came with her family to worship Athi Varadar deity on Tuesday morning. The family took a bus from Koyambedu bus terminus to Olimohammedpettai stop near Kancheepuram and walked to the temple.

There, the elderly woman complained of shortness in breath and fell unconscious. A medical team at the place rushed her to the Kancheepuram government hospital where she was declared dead on arrival. Doctors said that she had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.

A police officer posed at the Athivarathar temple festival was sent to the Kancheepuram government hospital after he took ill. Senthil Kumar, a head constable from Coimbatore district was posted on duty at the Athi Varadar festival.

On Tuesday afternoon, he complained of breathlessness to a police officer and fainted amidst the temple crowd.

He was given first aid by the medical team, Later he was shifted to the Kancheepuram government hospital for treatment. Police said his condition is stable.