14 killed, several injured in stampede at Pushkaralu Festival in Andhra Pradesh
At least 14 people are reported killed in a stampede in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district this morning and several others have been injured.
The tragedy took place at a bathing ghat in Rajahmundry during the "Maha Pushkaralu", a religious festival that celebrates rivers and draws huge crowds in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, according to NDTV.com.
A large number of pilgrims had rushed towards one of the gates at the Kotagummam Pushkar ghat on the banks of the Godavari river to take a bath, when some women slipped and fell, causing the stampede, a disaster management official said.
Twelve bodies have been brought to a local hospital. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is said to be monitoring the situation from a police control room and has ordered that more policemen be deployed to control crowds.
The 12-day festival began today and Mr Naidu was among those who bathed in the Godavari river, considered holy, this morning. The public was stopped from bathing for about two hours when the chief minister took a dip.