Kumbakonam continued to grow even after India 's independence though it fell behind the nearby town of Thanjavur in terms of population and administrative importance . The population growth rate began to fall sharply after 1981 . This decline has been attributed to limited land area and lack of industrial potential . During the Mahamaham festival of 1992 , there was a major stampede in which 48 people were killed and 74 were injured . On 16 July 2004 , a devastating fire accident in the Sri Krishna school killed 94 children
devastating fire accident
2004 Kumbakonam School fire
Kumbakonam