The State’s first jallikattu of the season was held at Thatchankurichi village in the Gandarvakottai taluk of Pudukottai district with traditional fervour on Saturday, ahead of the Pongal festivities. Twenty-two persons were injured, and 11 of them were referred to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital at the end of the event at 3.30 p.m.
Those referred to Thanjavur included eight bull tamers, an owner of a bull, a spectator and a member of the event organising committee. The others were treated by a medical team at the venue.
Ministers S. Raghupathy and Siva V. Meyyanathan flagged off the event from a makeshift stage at 7:30 a.m. Mr. Raghupathy administered the oath to the tamers in the presence of District Collector I.S. Mercy Ramya.
