The electrocution of 11 people, including 3 juveniles during a temple car festival procession in Thanjavur district, echoed in the Assembly on Wednesday prompting the Chief Minister M K Stalin to pilot a condolence resolution and also announce a solatium of Rs 5 lakh each to the families who lost their kin in the mishap.

Besides, he directed the officials to ensure that best medicare is provided to the injured.

The Chief Minister announced a one-man commission of enquiry to thoroughly probe the incident and to put forth recommendations to make sure that such unfortunate incidents don't happen in the future, Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji told the Assembly. Explaining the circumstances leading to the electrocution, he said the overhead high tension power cable was 23 feet above the ground. "The upper portion of the chariot came into contact with the HT cable while negotiating the last corner in Kalikedu; and 11 persons were electrocuted immediately. It is also suspected that the power could have tripped from the generator, being operated from behind the chariot, and spread to the serial lights," Balaji claimed. However, a detailed probe under the revenue principal secretary (Kumar Jayanth) has been ordered by the Chief Minister, who has rushed to Thanjavur to console the bereaved families, the Minister informed.

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P K Sekar Babu said being a private shrine, the Appar temple did not come under the ambit of his ministry. Nevertheless, steps would be initiated to put in place a safety mechanism so as to prevent such mishaps in the future, he said.

Earlier, offering his heartfelt condolences to the affected families, the CM announced a solatium of Rs 5 lakhs to be immediately disbursed from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to each of the families who lost their kin in the electrocution.

"I was deeply saddened to hear the tragic news about the death of 11 persons due to electrocution during the Kalimedu temple festival this morning. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families," Stalin who piloted a resolution to condole the deaths in the tragic incident, said. The Assembly observed a two minute silence as a mark of respect to the deceased.

Moving a call attention motion on the Kalimedu incident, leader of the opposition AIADMK K Palaniswami sought enhanced compensation to the victims' families. Taking exception to the government for not preventing the incident, Palaniswami led his party members in staging a walk out. Later, the opposition party members returned and insisted upon the Speaker M Appavu to allow them to debate on the accident. But the speaker initially declined saying they cannot debate as they had staged a walk out on the issue. However, he would provide them an opportunity later, he said.

The AIADMK legislators protested and later rushed to the well of the house and staged a 'dharna' demanding that they be allowed to speak on a remark made by Congress Legislature Party leader Selvaperunthagai on Mahamaham festival in Kumbakonam in 1992. As repeated appeal by Appavu failed to have any effect on the members to resume their seats, the Speaker had to order their eviction for their disorderly behaviour. "I have been generously providing plenty of opportunity to the opposition to speak. Since the DMK returned to power a year ago, the government has not been functioning on communal lines. It is treating all as equal," the Speaker said and added that he was constrained to order the eviction of the AIADMK members as they continued to disrupt the House.

Leader of the House Duraimurugan appealed to the Speaker not to be too liberal in allowing the opposition to raise too many issues during the zero hour.