AP, July 14: 27 pilgrims, out of which 25 were women, killed and 14 other injured in a rush on the first day of Godavari Maha Pushkaram at Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh.
The tragedy occurred at on the first day of 12-days Godavari Maha Pushkaram when lakhs of people take a holy dip, large number of pilgrims allegedly run towards one of the gates at Kotagummam pushkar ghat on the Godavari River to take a holy dip. At least 27 pilgrims, mostly women were killed and several others are injured.
The tragedy occurred when authorities opened gates at Kotigummam bathing ghat, then the people reportedly pushing each other in bid to reach the river bank first. Most of the victims are from Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts. Andhra Pradesh State chief minister who take his holy dip at Rajahmundry along with family has rushed to the location and instructed the police to take action.
The bodies of victims and were shifted to district government hospital and injured people also send to hospital. Over 30 lakh people are expected to take the holy dip at Rajahmundry of the first three days of Pushkaralu.
24 ghats were made, but most of the people usually choose the Kotilingalu and Kotighummam ghats which are very famous. Police and district authorities did not make any arrangement to divert the people to empty Ghats, as a result some of the ghats filled with over crowed while others were empty.
CM Chandra babu advised the people to use empty ghats and he mentioned condolences to victim families. Prime Minister is also mentioned his condolences to victim families through twitter account and discussed about the situation with AP CM.