Today in history: Twenty-eight mentally ill persons tied to a chain are burnt to death at a faith based institution at Erwadi, Tamil Nadu

On August 6, 2001, a tragic fire broke out at a faith-based mental rehabilitation center in Erwadi, a small town in Tamil Nadu, India. The institution, which was known for treating mentally ill patients through religious rituals and prayers, kept many of its patients chained to their beds or to one another as a method of restraint. When the fire erupted in one of the huts, 28 mentally ill individuals who were tied up could not escape and were burnt alive. The incident shocked the entire nation and drew widespread criticism over the inhumane conditions under which the patients were kept.

The Erwadi tragedy exposed the dark underside of unregulated mental health care in India, especially in rural areas where superstition and faith healing often take precedence over medical treatment. Public outrage led to an official investigation and a demand for reforms in mental health institutions. The incident eventually prompted the government to enforce stricter regulations and close down similar facilities that operated without licenses or professional oversight. The Erwadi fire remains a painful reminder of the urgent need for compassionate, scientific, and rights-based mental health care in the country.

See also: Today in history : On August 6, 1991