In yet another case of political apathy, a motorist sustained severe injuries after an iron rod holding AIADMK banners erected for Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami fell on him on Saturday. The incident happened in Coonoor.
Farooq, a resident of Coonoor in the Nilgiris district, was traveling from Mettupalayam to his hometown when one of the several banners, erected to welcome CM Palaniswami, minister SB Velumani and other MPs to Coonoor, fell on him.
The banners which started right from Mettupalayam, were erected for the Kumbabhishekam festival of Muthalamman temple held in Coonoor. The accident occurred near Law's falls and Farooq was reported to have immediately lost consciousness from the impact.
He was then rushed to the Government Lawley Hospital in Coonoor by auto drivers and police officers who were patrolling the locality. From here, Farooq was reported to have been moved to the Government Hospital in Coimbatore.
"A police officer who was patrolling the area witnessed the accident and took me to the hospital. There was an auto driver as well who took care of my bike while I was being rushed to the hospital. The iron rod from banner was what hit my head while I rode," Farooq reportedly confirmed in a statement to the police on Saturday.
A case has been filed with the Coonoor Town police and Farooq's relatives have even protested the erection of such illegal banners that have been causing such accidents.
This is not the first incident of illegal banners causing such incidents. Barely three months ago, Ragu, a software engineer from the US died a tragic death in Coimbatore after ramming into a makeshift wooden arch erected for the late AIADMK leader MGR's centenary celebrations.
Ragu's death resulted in a blanket ban on illegal banners, posts, arches and placards on roads, which obstruct pedestrians, block free flow of traffic, visibility of drivers by the First Bench of the Madras High Court. However, this did ban did not stop the erection of illegal banners by the temple for the AIADMK leaders.