BJP National secretary Tarun Chugh has condoled the death of more than 27 people in a stampede during Godawari Maha Pushkaralu Festival in Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh.The BJP leader has urged Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao to ensure proper arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival and security of the pilgrims.He has also demanded suitable compensation for the families of the victims and for the injured persons. He has also asked the governments to take proper care and provide quality treatment free to the injured.Terming the sad incident as highly unfortunate, Chugh has wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Around 60 people are said to have been injured in the stampede. The tragedy occurred on the first day of the festival at one of the bathing ghats in Rajahmundry in East Godavari district on the banks of Godavari river.Sympathising with the kin of those dead, Chugh said that this is really painful that so many people lost their lives and several others were injured on an auspicious occasion. The BJP leader said that Godawari Maha Pushkaralu Festival was considered as auspicious as Mahakumbh in the North. He said that this festival falls after a gap of 144 years and is celebrated after every 12 years. He said that pilgrims in lakhs throng to the ghats of the Godawari to pray and express their devotion and besides tackling the recent tragedy proper planning needs to be done so that such incidents can be avoided in the future.