Maha Pushkar rush: Pilgrim deaths, traffic snarls hit AP, Telangana
The turnout of devotees swelled at all pushkar ghats in various parts of the district on Saturday, the fifth day of the Godavari Maha Pushkaralu. (Photo: Deccan Chronicle)- The rationale for a probe would be to find out where the failure lay so that we learn to effect better control. The mere announcement of compensation and a statutory probe is hardly likely to leave us any wiser. The inability to protect the lives of
- The 27 deaths in the Rajahmundry stampede is reflective of how little attention is paid to the ordinary pilgrims as opposed to arrangements for VIPs wishing to participate in the midst of such crowds. The need to get at the truth of where
- The Andhra Pradesh chief minister’s arrival at a bathing ghat earmarked for the general public rather than the one reserved for VIPs seems to have triggered a fateful response from a restive crowd of lakhs of people waiting for a holy dip on an
- However, no amount of advance preparations, despite the spending of more than Rs 1,000 crore, seems to help. When the country’s VIP culture adds a deadly dimension to a mishap like the stampede at the Godavari Maha Pushkaram, it makes us wonder if
- In a populous country like India where the numbers at any special event, particularly those of religious significance, are so great as to present difficulties in crowd management, it is incumbent upon governments to make the best possible
- District authorities allowed auto-rickshaws and seven-seater vehicles for transporting devotees from parking lots to the pushkar ghats at Rs 10 per passenger. (Photo: Deccan Chronicle)
- Vehicles of the devotees were forced to wait on roads to reach bathing ghats. Police personnel had to sweat it out to regulate the traffic. (Photo: Deccan Chronicle)
- The mere announcement of compensation and a statutory probe is hardly likely to leave us any wiser. The inability to protect the lives of Indian citizens is illustrative of a grave failure of attitude. (Photo: Deccan Chronicle)
- The rise in numbers resulted in traffic snarls at major venues namely Dharmapuri and Kalehswaram. (Photo: Deccan Chronicle)
- At the same time, ghats erected in Manthani and Koti Lingala, Sundilla, Godavarikhani Manc-herial bridge and several other venues of the district registered increased turnout than the previous three days of the mega event. (Photo: Deccan Chronicle)
- They hired private vehicles for reaching the venues. Among 22 venues of Pushkaralu, Dharmapuri which houses ancient Sri Laxmi Narasimha Swami shrine recorded influx of over five lakh devotees, while about two lakh pilgrims had the holy bath on the
- The pilgrims visited temples located near the ghats following completion of the holy dip. (Photo: Deccan Chronicle)
- They continued taking the holy dip till 2 pm, braving the heat. (Photo: Deccan Chronicle)
- According to district authorities, around 12 lakh devotees had the holy dip. Several thousands of pilgrims along with their family members, belonging to different parts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattishgarh, Maharashtra and Karnakataka states
- Other venues such as Kaleshwaram, Manthani and Koti Lingala have registered substantial increase in the rush of pilgrims. (Photo: Deccan Chronicle)
- River banks of Godavari at temple town Dharmapuri was a sea of humanity following heavy participation of devotees from various parts of state in taking the holy dip in the river. (Photo: Deccan Chronicle)
The turnout of devotees swelled at all pushkar ghats in various parts of the district on Saturday, the fifth day of the Godavari Maha Pushkaralu. (Photo: Deccan Chronicle)
Maha Pushkar rush: Pilgrim deaths, traffic snarls hit AP, Telangana
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