MALAPPURAM: Three persons died after a huge uprooted tree fell on them during heavy rain and during a festival at Poolakkappara adivasi colony in Nilambur on Thursday evening. The dead were identified as Vazhikadavu Poojakolli resident colony resident Chathi (59), Shankaran (60), Muthedam Poolakkapara colonu resident Shankaran (60) and Amarambalam panchayat PAttikarimnu colony resident Chathi (61).

Several others have been injured in the incident that took place around 6.30 pm. The three-day festival had started on Thursday.

The incident happened at the place, where the puja of mountain gods was being held; there was huge gathering of adivasi people and 150 adivasi people from nearby colonies had also gathered here. The three persons died on the spot. Poolakkapara colony resident Venu’s children Ananya (6) and Renuka (10) sustained minor injuries.

The postmortem of bodies will be held today; the bodies are kept at Nilambur district hospital mortuary.