Four pilgrims killed in Andhra stampede

The festival, known as the Kumbh of south occurs once every 144 years.

While Telangana has constructed 106 bathing ghats in five districts, Andhra has made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims at 280 ghats in East and West Godavari districts.The authorities in both the states have deployed expert swimmers and kept rescue boats ready to meet any contingency.

Almost 24 million people are expected to take part in the 12-day festival along the Godavari River flowing through the two states.

Similar to the “Kumbh melas”, celebrated alongside holy rivers in north India, Pushkarams in AP and Telangana is held once in 12 years and having a holy dip in River Godavari during the time is said to bring blessings to the devotees.

“This is very significant from the astronomical point of view”.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu rushed to the location in order to take stock of the situation and instructed police to take action, reported ANI. “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.

Over the call, the user can get real-time information on Pushkar ghats, temples, hotels, road and rail network and other emergency details.

As “Maha Pushkarams” is possible once in a life time, let us not miss the mega event.

He said the bridge across the river Manjeera between Kandakurthy and Dharmabad would be closed to control the vehicular traffic.

Each of the state government is spending Rs.

Drone cameras and many surveillance cameras are being used by the police forces to monitor crowd movement during the Pushkarams.