Sudden influx of devotees caused stampede: Collector
Rajahmundry, July 16: East Godavari District Collector H Arun Kumar has submitted a report on the stampede incident to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). In the report, the Collector informed that stampede took place at 8:30 am on Tuesday as a large number of devotees arrived at a time. According to the report, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu started the festivities at 6:26 am on the day. The situation went out of control as the devotees forced their way onto the ghat. Twenty seven persons died in the stampede and the details of compensation and aid to dead and injured were also furnished in the report. It was mentioned that police failed to control the crowd. A preliminary report was also sent to Home Ministry through Chief Secretary.