Jallikattu: Two Gored To Death In Tamil Nadu (image: twitter.com/poornasangeetha)

Two spectators, including a boy, were reportedly gored to death by bulls during a Jallikattu event in Tamil Nadu. NDTV reported that the tragic incident happened today in Tamil Nadu”s Sivaganga district.

The horrific incident happened after the Jallikattu ended. The bull owners thronged to collect their animals and suddenly the bulls ran helter-skelter, leading to the death of two people by separate animals, according to the police, NDTV reported.

Jallikattu is a traditional festival in Tamil Nadu during the Pongal season and the practice has led to the heated debate and legal battles, calling for banning the events that have for years led to the death of many people. It is a sports event, involving the releasing of a wild bull into a crowd and the competitor should grab the bull’s hump and ride it for as long as possible or win the bull by bringing it under control.

After a prolonged legal battle, the Supreme Court, while allowing the event, had set some stringent safety rules for the smooth conducting of the sport. However, the latest incident raises concerns about the safety measures of the bull-taming festival. The Court had made norms such as double barricading the sports arena and other safety steps to avoid injuries to animals and spectators.

However, the popular sports event has been causing injuries and deaths in several parts of Tamil Nadu. In addition to the Sivaganga incident that killed two, there have been other reported injuries in several places. There were reports that Palamedu of Madurai district witnessed the event injuring around 60 people. The event is now underway in Alanganallur, considered the capital of the Jallikattu.