Timely action by Thirugnam, 36, an electricity board worker in Kalimedu, may have saved many lives on that fateful night when the electric shock struck.
Thiruganam’s wife Kannagi told Hindu That her husband, seeing the car pullers being thrown away under the influence of electric shock and fire, initially ran towards the car like the others trying to save the victims.
However, realizing the gravity of the situation after experiencing tremors while stepping on the wet road, he immediately alerted his counterparts in Thanjavur and asked them to switch off the high-voltage power supply.
Sri Thiruganam himself was admitted to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital with severe body pain.
Praveen, a BCA first year student from Kalimedu, said he came out of his house around 3 a.m. sensing the uproar in the area and saw the decorated vehicle in flames. Some people were lying motionless on the car. Immediately, he called his friends and tried the hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation technique. Together they managed to revive the heartbeat of some unconscious people.