Godavari Pushkaram stampede claims 27 lives

As many as 27 people died and dozens others were injured in a stampede on Tuesday morning when pilgrims thronged to take a dip on the opening day of Godavari Pushkaram in the coastal town of Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh.

Thousands of people who were waiting outside the first gate to enter a Pushkar Ghat ran towards the stairs all at once, leading to the stampede, according to eyewitnesses. Some died in the stampede while others drowned as the crowd fell on them, media reports said.

However, additional director general of police (Law & Order), R P Thakur, said the actual deaths due to the stampede stood at around 10 while others died of dehydration as they were waiting empty stomach for the holy dip since Monday night.

The tragedy went on for about an hour as the authorities failed to control the incoming flow of people. There was no escape route for the victims, according to reports. The police failed to regulate the flow of pilgrims although the government had built dozens of ghats along the river.

An official said over 40 of the injured were being treated at various hospitals in Rajahmundry. Those who died included women and children and identification of the bodies was on. The authorities are yet to issue a statement on the number of deaths or the condition of the injured.

Lakhs of pilgrims throng the Pushkar ghats at Rajahmundry in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh to take a holy dip in River Godavari (pic: K Sudheer)

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who was in Rajahmundry to take part in the ritual with his family members, announced Rs 10 lakh ex gratia relief to the families of the dead. Expressing his shock, Naidu said the state government would order an inquiry into the incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply pained at the loss of lives. "I spoke with the chief minister and discussed the situation with him. The state government is working to restore normalcy," Modi said in a tweet.

To make Godavari Pushkar a grand event, the state government had spent Rs 1,500 crore on arrangements, including roads and 150 ghats at several places in the East and West Godavari districts, including Rajahmundry, where the river enters the Bay of Bengal.

Opposition parties blamed the authorities for not taking steps to avert the tragedy. Governor ESL Narasimhan, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and expressed their sorrow.

The Godavari Pushkaram is held every 12 years in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The event this year was the Maha Pushkaram that comes once every 144 years.