6 pilgrims killed in flash floods in Tamil Nadu, India

The pilgrims had been advised to not go to the hills following the rains, but they didnt listen, said a senior police officer.

    

Six pilgrims were killed in flash floods on the Sathuragiri Hills in Tamil Nadu yesterday.

Heavy rains yesterday afternoon, triggered the floods on the hills, which are a part of the Western Ghats, where more than 2,000 pilgrims had gathered since Saturday night to worship at the Sundara Mahalingam Temple, on the occasion of no-moon day.

Police, forest, and fire and rescue teams from Virudhanagar district have so far recovered the bodies of six men. "Two more people including a 16-year-old girl are missing. Our search is on. Most of the devotees have left the hills. The rains have stopped," said a senior police official.

The pilgrims had been advised by the district administration to not go to the hills following the rains, but they didn't listen, said a senior police officer.