Rajahmundry: At least 27 pilgrims were killed when a stampede broke out at Pushkar ghat on the banks of Godavari River on the first day of ‘Pushkaram’ festival on Tuesday.
The tragedy took place when a large number of people were moving forward to take a holy dip in the river, said Kulasekhar, dy SP East Godavari district.
He said the deceased are senior citizens and police are yet to establish their identity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the stampede.
Modi said he spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and discussed the situation with him.
“Deeply pained at the loss of lives due to stampede at Rajahmundry. My condolences to the families of the deceased & prayers with the injured,” he tweeted.
“Spoke to CM @ncbn & discussed the situation with him.
The State Government is working to restore normalcy,” he said.
Chandrababu Naidu and K Chandrasekhar Rao, the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana bathed on Tuesday morning, like other pilgrims, in rivers considered holy in their states.
The mass pilgrimage is compared often to the Kumbh mela in the North because devotees take a dip in rivers considered holy.
39 pilgrims were trampled to death and dozens injured when the religious festival was last held by the Godavari river in Nashik, around 100 miles northeast of Mumbai, in 2003.
‘Godavari ‘Pushkaram’ is the once in 144-year event dedicated to worshipping rivers in the two states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.