The Hindu Business Line : Krishna Pushkaram begins; four die in stampede

FOUR pilgrims were killed and 12 injured in a stampede at the Krishnaveni bathing ghat here on Saturday, and another drowned in the river, as Krishna Pushkaram, which occurs once in 12 years, got underway here. The accident occurred when a huge surge of pilgrims tried to take bath during the early hours at the ghat and a railing collapsed.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, visited the injured in the Government General Hospital and announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the dead and Rs 10,000 to the injured.

At a press meet later, the Chief Minister said the Government has decided to order an enquiry and also to transfer the Krishna District Collector, Mr K. Prabhakara Reddy, and the Commissioner of Police, Vijayawada, Mr T. Krishna Prasad.

He said the officials need not be demoralised but responsibility would have to be taken.

The Chief Commissioner of Land Administration, Mr R.C. Samal, would go into all aspects and submit a report within a week. "We have suspended the Superintending Engineer, Irrigation, and eight other officials.

The responsibility has to be fixed when such an incident happens," he said.