Two Wari pilgrims electrocuted in Maharashtra's Phaltan town

Two wari pilgrims died on Monday when they came in contact with a live wire while another was seriously injured in Maharashtra’s Satara district, according to police sources.

The tragedy occurred at around 4 am when three members of a group of pilgrims or warkaris accidentally touched a livewire as they halted at Phaltan town in western Maharashtra at around 4 am. While two of them died on the spot, another sustained serious injury, Satara superintendent of police Sandip Patil said.

The deceased have been identified as Dnyanoba Chopre (65), a resident of Parbhani district, and Jaibai Jamake (60) from Nanded district, the SP said.

Facts about Wari, warkaris | Know all about it

1. Wari or waris is a holy procession to the Lord Vitthal Temple at Pandharpur in Solapur district.

2. The pilgrim is undertaken on foot to pray and receive blessings of Lord Vitthal.

3. Lakhs of warkaris from various parts of the state walk on foot every year to Lotd Vitthal temple.

4. The Wari culminates on the day of ‘Ashadhi Ekadashi’, which falls on July 23 this year.

5. The wari tradition is believed to have been observed since the days of Dnyaneshwar, the famous saint-poet of the 13th Century.

6. Phaltan town is located around 255 km away from Mumbai.