One person was killed and nearly 280 people were injured during the annual Gotmar festival, which sees locals pelting stones at each other, at Pandhurna in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district on Monday.

Of the 280 people, 15 of them sere seriously injured, according to officials. A 28-year-old man died on the spot after being hit in the stomach by stones.

Locals from two villages gather on either side of a river for this 300-year-old tradition, throwing stones at each other while racing to snatch a flag hoisted on top of a dead tree situated in the middle of the river.

One person died as a result of injury during the festival in 2011.

The tradition has a history of ending in tragedy, with one death as a result of injury during the festival in 2011.

One person was killed and nearly 280 people were injured, 15 of them seriously, during the annual “Gotmar” (stone-pelting) festival at Pandhurna in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district Monday.

During the annual Gotmar festival, people of Sawargaon and Pandhurna gather on either side of Jaam River and, while throwing stones, race to snatch a flag hoisted on top of a dead tree situated in the middle of the river.

300-year-old fest

The tradition is said to have started around 300 years ago when a boy from Pandhurna abducted a girl from Sawargaon.

The couple, facing a volley of stones while crossing the river, reached Pandhurna safely due to help from the villagers, according to folklore in the region.

Hit in the stomach

Collector Ved Prakash Sharma and Superintendent of Police Atul Singh told reporters on Monday that one person, identified as Shankar Bhalavi (28), died on the spot after being hit in the stomach by stones.

He was a resident of Belgaon village here, the officials added.

Over 280 persons were injured, 15 of them grievously, they informed.

Earlier, one person had died during this festival in 2011, officials said.