27 pilgrims killed in stampede in Andhra

Surge of pilgrims after VIPs departure likely caused Pushkaram tragedy

Hyderabad - The 12-day "Godavari Pushkaralu" in Andhra Pradesh began on a tragic note on Tuesday with at least 27 people, mostly women and elderly persons, dying in a stampede that broke out on the banks of the river in the south coastal town of Rajahmundry.
Several others suffered injuries, mainly due to suffocation, with many of them stated to be in critical condition.
The stampede took place immediately after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu took the holy dip in the river to mark the beginning of the Pushkaram which occurs once in 12 years.
According to reports and eye-witness accounts, the stampede occurred around 8.30am following a massive surge of pilgrims who were kept waiting following the presence of VIPs including Naidu, several of his cabinet colleagues and bureaucrats. Immediately after the VIPs left the enclosure, hundreds of jostling pilgrims rushed to the spot resulting in the stampede.
Adding to the woes of the pilgrims was the use of mild force by the police present in the spot in a bid to bring the situation under control.
Several persons mostly women who were found unconscious in the bathing ghat were rushed to nearby hospitals, but many of them died before getting any medical attention. The condition of at least 14 persons who were admitted to hospitals was reported to be critical. Many of the victims had travelled long distances to participate in the Pushkaram, and were tired after the long wait. Expressing grief and sorrow at the tragedy, a visibly shaken Naidu said he was personally monitoring the situation from the control room set up to monitor the Pushkaram activities.
"This is very unfortunate and shocking. I visited this place several times to review arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the event. But some problems cropped up in the execution. We are ensuring that the injured victims get the best of treatment and if required, they will be shifted to other hospitals outside Rajahmundry," he said. The chief minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs1 million to the families of the deceased and said, if necessary, he would remain in Rajahmundry for the next 11 days. Earlier in the day, Naidu, accompanied by his wife Bhuvaneshwari and son Nara Lokesh took the holy dip where the river is full in its expanse.
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress squarely blamed the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government for the tragedy.
"The government is responsible for the deaths since the arrangements made by it proved to be inadequate to handle such a situation," AP Congress president N Raghuveera Reddy said, adding that the tragedy could have been averted if proper security measures had been taken.
The Godavari Maha Pushkaralu, on the lines of the Maha Kumbhamela, occurs once every 144 years and this time it's being celebrated for 12 days, from July 14 to 25. The normal Pushkaralus are celebrated every 12 years at 12 sacred rivers of India based on the zodiac signs. A holy dip in the river during Pushkaralu is believed to free one from all sins.
The Godavari river travels 1465km from Triambakeshwar in Nasik, Maharashtra, to Telangana, Chhattisgarh and ends at Antarvedi in East Godavari in Andhra Pradesh, before joining the Bay of Bengal, touching several famed temples situated along its banks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled the deaths caused by the stampede at Pushkaram. "Deeply pained at the loss of lives due to stampede at Rajahmundry. My condolences to the families of the deceased and prayers for the injured," Modi tweeted. -news@khaleejtimes.com
 
Major stampedes in India in last 10 years
> October 3, 2014: 32 people died in a stampede after Ravan-burning at Dushhera festival at Patna's Gandhi Maidan
> January 18, 2014: 18 people died in a stampede outside the residence of Dawoodi Bohra spiritual leader Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin at Mumbai's Malabar Hill
> October 13, 2013: 89 killed and over 100 injured in stampede near Ratangarh Hindu temple in Datia, Madhya Pradesh
> February 10, 2013: 36 people killed in a stampede at the Allahabad railway station during the Kumbh Mela
> November 19, 2012: 20 killed in a stampede at a ghat in Patna during Chhath festival
> November 8, 2011: 22 killed in stampede in Haridwar at Har-ki-Pauri ghat on banks of the Ganga river
> January 14, 2011: 106 pilgrims killed in a stampede at Sabarimala shrine in Kerela; over 100 injured
> March 4, 2010: 63 people killed in a stampede at Ram Janki Temple in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, as people collected to get free clothes and food from a self-styled guru
> September 30, 2008: Over 120 killed and 200 injured in a stampede at the hill-top Chamunda Devi temple in Jodhpur in Rajasthan, during Navratra festival.
> August 3, 2006: Nearly 150 devotees killed and over 400 injured in stampede in Himachal's Naina Devi temple.
> January 26, 2005: Nearly 350 devotees killed at a religious fair at Mandher Devi temple near Wai in Satara district in western Maharashtra. Over 200 injured. - IANS

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