CPI demands judicial probe into stampede death in AP

New Delhi: The CPI on Wednesday demanded a judicial probe into the death of 27 people including 23 women in a stampede at a bathing ghat on the banks of river Godavari at Rajahmundry during 'Pushkaram' festival.

The CPI sends its deep condolences to the families of the deceased and demands a judicial probe into the incident, CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said in a statement. The CPI demanded Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu take responsibility for the incident as he had claimed of personally supervising the festival arrangements.

The party said the government had been doing massive publicity for the Pushkaram programme, which attracted millions of people to at the accident site along Godavari river, but failed miserably to make proper arrangements for their safety. Naidu has claimed that he is personally supervising the arrangements, the party, hence, feels that he must take responsibility for the unfortunate but ghastly killings of innocent pilgrims.

The incident took place yesterday on the banks of the Godavari river on the first day of a major religious festival Godavari Pushkaram.

-PTI