Stampede at Godavari Pushkaralu in Andhra Pradesh crushes 27 to death

Rajahmundry: The Godavari Maha Pushkaralu began on a tragic note on Tuesday as 27 pilgrims, mostly women, died and several sustained injuries in a stampede at Pushkar Ghat here on Tuesday.

AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu arrived at the Pushkar Ghat at about 6 am and inaugurated the Godavari Maha Pushkaralu at the auspicious time of 6.26 am by taking the holy dip along with his family members including wife Bhuvaneswari, son Nara Lokesh and Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswati in the Godavari river.

All this took nearly an hour and later he went into his vehicle to change his dress. He was in his bus for more than half-an- hour. His convoy moved out of the Pushkar Ghat at about 8.10 am. Soon after, the police who had till then held back the devotees behind barricades, let them go all of a sudden.

Read: Andhra Pradesh meetings did not factor in stampede

The waiting devotees from multiple sides, including the Three Town Police Station, Kotagummam Centre and Godavari Bund Road, rushed towards the ghat’s entrances while the police and officials asked the devotees who were watching the CM in the ghat to leave.

Read: Andhra Pradesh ministers to face the heat for being irresponsible about Pushkaralu arrangements

A senior official in the district administration said, “The CM was advised to take the holy dip and perform rituals at the Pushkar Ghat by the local politicians. Had he opted for the newly-built Saraswathi Ghat, there might not have been such a stampede.”