Yet another stampede-like situation was reported at an event by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur on Sunday where three women died and several were injured.
Arif Hafeez, SP Guntur, told ANI that three people died and several were injured during a public meeting held by TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu in Guntur district.
The stampede occurred when people rushed to receive gifts at the programme after a public meeting. Naidu had reportedly left the venue by the time chaos ensued.
Health Minister V Rajani said a woman died on the spot while two others succumbed to injuries while being shifted to a hospital, as per PTI. A police official said that as soon as the organisers started distributing gifts, including sarees, the crowd swelled and they pushed the barricades away leading to a stampede.
Expressing shock over the incident, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy said that the government would stand by the families of the victims. In a statement, he ordered swift medical treatment to the injured. He also announced an exgratia of Rs 2 lakhs each to kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
Meanwhile, Naidu also expressed shock and announced Rs 5 lakh each as financial aid to bereaved families.
“It is really painful that three persons died in the stampede that took place after I left the venue as the programme was completed. I attended the programme only to encourage that voluntary organisation which is trying to help the poor," he said in the press release.
This incident comes days after eight people, including two women, died and many others were injured when they fell into a drainage canal during a roadshow by Naidu in Nellore on Wednesday.
People gathered in large numbers at the venue and there was some jostling among the public during the meeting, leading to a stampede at the canal, police had said.
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