Nandi idol surfaces as Tamirabarani recedes

Owing to severe shortage of rainfall, Tamirabarani river had dried up in Thoothukudi and the district administration had stopped supply of river water to industries. On Saturday evening, some people crossing the river noticed a part of the statue protruding out of the river bed. They immediately informed the village elders, who alerted panchayat president Natarajan. 

Subsequently, an earthmover was brought to the spot and the idol was taken out the same night. The idol was then taken to a common place in the village, where it was cleaned and decorated. People started worshipping the idol from early Sunday. Natarajan claimed that a similar idol had surfaced in the river bed about ten years ago. “However, we delayed the process of taking it out it got buried in the sand. This time around, we ensured that the idol was taken out immediately,” he added.