27 dead in stampede at religious festival in AP

Nineteen people have died in a stampede during Godavari Pushkaram festival in Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday.

Several others have been injured in the incident and the death toll is likely to rise. Earlier reports said that 22 people had died in the mishap but officials have confirmed 19 deaths so far.

Police is trying to divert the devotees from the ghats to control the crowd. The Godavari Pushkaram festival is being held on river Godavari's banks.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is at the spot to monitor the situation. The bodies of victims, all women, were shifted to Rajahmundry government hospital. The injured were also brought to the hospital, where the condition of some of them is stated to be critical.

The stampede took place when the devotees rushed to take a holy dip in the river Godavari at Rajamundry at the time of sunrise. The heavy rush at the at Kotagummam pushkar ghat in Rajamundry lead to a stampede. These Pushkaralu is known as Kumbh of South.

This is the first Pushkaram being held after the bifurcation of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. The 12-day-long 'Godavari Pushkaram' in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana began on Tuesday. Crores of devotees are expected to take part in the mega congregation in both states.

Similar to the 'Kumbh melas', celebrated by the banks of the holy rivers of India, 'Pushkaram' is held every 12 years in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Taking a dip in Godavari river is the main feature of the festival. The event this year is special as it marks the 'Maha Pushkaram', which comes once in every 144 years.

"This is very significant from the astronomical point of view. The conjunction of 'Brihaspati' (Jupiter) entering into 'Simha rasi' (zodiac sign of Leo)," Advisor (Communications) to Andhra Pradesh government, Parakala Prabhakar, who heads a committee on 'Pushkaram', said earlier.