2 die as float capsizes at temple fest

Tirupati: Two persons died and a girl was missing as a float capsized during temple festival at Kalathur under Varadaiapalem mandal in Chittoor district on Tuesday. According to information reaching here, the mishap happened during Prasanna Venkateswara Swamy temple float festival in the village. As part of the festival, the deities were taken atop the decorated float in the temple tank (Pushkarini) in Theppotsavam.

Overcrowding on the float could have flipped it. Between 35 and 40 people were on board the float when it capsized. The dead were identified as Subrahmanyam and 11-year-old Vamsi. Unconfirmed reports said former MLA T Manohar escaped with simple injuries.