Pushkaralu stampede puts Telangana on high alert

Police and district administration have been deployed by the Telangana government at the Godavari Maha Pushkaralu in view of the Rajahmundry stampede on Tuesday that left 30 dead and many other injured.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who took a dip in the River Godavari along with family members at Dharmapuri in Karimnagar district returned to Hyderabad and convened a high-level meeting. KCR discussed with ministers, the DGP and other officials regarding the existing arrangements, inflow of crowds at Pushkar ghats and Police personnel.

Reviewing the situation in Dharmapuri, Basar, Kandukurthy, Bhadrachallam and Kaleswaram where the turnout is large, the Chief Minister along with his Cabinet condoled the death of pilgrims in the stampede. KCR directed the officials to ensure safety to the pilgrims and monitored the arrangements at all Pushkara ghats in the wake of the AP stampede.

With no major incident reported, the first day of the Puskharalu passed off peacefully in Telangana. Thousands of pilgrims took a bath at the Ghats on Tuesday at 6.26 am which is the muhurtham for the event. As there was continuous flow of pilgrims at all major Pushkar ghats, Police stopped vehicles half a km away from Pushkara ghats.