Tragedy fails to deter pilgrims from heading to the Pushkar ghats
Pilgrims, in large numbers, throng RTC Complex on Tuesday to board buses towards Rajahmundry to take part in Godavari Pushkaralu. (Photo: DC)
Visakhapatnam: To take a holy dip in the sacred Godavari on the occasion of Maha Pushkaralu, many people from Visakhapatnam and neighbouring areas were seen taking the route to the dual Godavari districts on Tuesday.
Railway and bus stations in Visakhapatnam swelled with pilgrims, leading to passengers often bumping into one another while boarding trains and buses. Even though the railways and the APSRTC have been operating special trains and buses to clear the extra rush during Pushkar-alu, they could only partially fulfil the requirement. With this, groups of passengers
were seen negotiating among themselves to opt for private vehicles. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, RTC regional manager G. Sudesh Kumar said, “Around 200 RTC buses from Kurnool and Anantapur districts were brought to Vizag to manage the rush. Visakhapatnam bus station alone operated 294 buses to Rajahmundry on Monday and around 250 buses on Tuesday.”
The situation is no better in Visakhapatnam railway station, which usually stays busy even on ordinary days. On Tuesday, there was heavy rush of pilgrims in the railway station too with some passengers trying it hard to make their way into the trains. Cashing in on the craze, private taxi operators have hiked the prices in Visakha-patnam, from Rs 15 to Rs 20 a km. The stampede resulting in the death of 27 people could not deter Vizagites from heading to Pushkaralu in Rajahmundry.
Heatwave likely to trouble pilgrims:
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officials predicted the heatwave conditions would prevail in parts of East and West Godavari districts and also in Vizag in the next few days which can be a cause of concern to the Pushkar pilgrims.
The temperature may hover between 38 and 40 degree Celsius in the next few days due to the strong presence of Westerly winds. The Met officials said that due to delay in the formation of sea breeze in coastal Andhra Pradesh, the humidity in air oscillated between 50 and 70 per cent, making the weather sultry and uncomfortable.
The weathermen said the hot weather conditions in Rajahmundry and other parts of East and West Godavari districts can be a cause of concern for people planning to visit Rajahmundry for taking a holy dip in the river on the occasion of Pushkaralu.
On Tuesday, Vizag city recorded 37 degree Celsius with relative humidity of 73 per cent. Sources said several pilgrims who had gone to Rajahmundry for Puskhakaralu faced difficulties due to the heat and lack of proper drinking water facilities at many Pushkar ghats.
The Met officials also said light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh in the next 24 hours.
Srikakulam woman goes missing:
A homemaker, A. Menaka, from Hiramandalam area of Srikakulam has gone missing in Nasik, Maharashtra, on Tuesday morning. According to reports, Menaka along with her husband, A. Suresh, and her family members had gone to Nasik, the origin of river Godavari to take a holy dip during Pushakaralu. Her family members and cops searched for her but could not trace her and even her mobile phone is switched off. Her family fears that Menaka was kidnapped.
On Tuesday, around 9 am, when her husband and her relatives had gone to take a holy dip, Menaka has gone missing all of a sudden. Soon, her family members approached local police and lodged a complaint, who also alerted the Srikakulam police.Meanwhile, Menaka's faimly took the issue to the notice of Srikakulam MP K. Ramamohan Naidu. The MP, after speaking to police, said steps would be taken to trace her.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
Next Story
