4 women killed, 12 injured in TN stampede

A stampede to collect tokens for free clothes being offered by a businessman at Vaniyambadi resulted in the death of four women and injuries to 12 women. Police said a local businessman who runs a blue metal company had offered free clothes for the Thaipoosam festival and at least 2,000 people, mostly women, had gathered outside his factory gates to collect tokens. The moment his staff opened the gates in the morning, there was a rush to get in and several women in the front of the crowd fell down. The rest of the crowd rushed in stamping on those fallen. By the time order was restored by police and revenue officials, several women had been injured. They were rushed to the Vaniyambadi government general hospital where four women from Old Vaniyambadi were declared dead.