At least 13 persons were killed when a giant-wheel at a temple festival in the district town of Karur in Tamil Nadu came down crashing in a hailstorm on Tuesday night.

A hailstorm is unusual in this part of the state. Its occurance during the Mariamman Temple festival was taken as a heavenly blessing and only added to the boisterous mood.

As the storm picked up momentum, the giant-wheel put up by a private contractor came down crashing killing seven persons on the spot. Others succumbed at government hospitals in Karur and Tiruchi.

The condition of a few of those injured in the mishap is said to be serious.

The storm ripped off the asbestos roofing of the Karur Railway Station and destroyed several acres of banana plantations, municipal authorities said.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 to the families of those who died in the mishap and Rs.15,000 to those who were seriously injured.