Four persons were electrocuted when they were making preparations for a festival at St. Antony’s Church in Enayam Puthenthurai, a coastal village in Kanniyakumari district, on Saturday.

According to a police official, the incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. The victim’s were identified as T. Vijayan, 52, V. Justus, 35, B. Shoban, 45, and Micahel Finto, 40, of Enayam Puthenthurai. The accident happened when they tried to remove an iron ladder from the path on which a ceremonial procession was supposed to take place as part of the festival. As it was being moved, the ladder came in contact with a live wire, electrocuting the four persons.

The deceased were initially taken to the Kulithurai Government Hospital before being shifted to the Asaripallam Government Medical College and Hospital for a post-mortem. After being informed about the accident, District Collector R. Alagumeena and Superintendent of Police R. Stalin visited the spot. Kanniyakumari Lok Sabha Member Vijay Vasanth reached the hospital to assess the situation, officials said.