The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Officials blamed for stampede

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 29, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Officials blamed for stampede

By Ramesh Susarla and G.V. Ramana Rao

The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy, performing puja at Beechupally, Mahaboobnagar, on Satruday.

By Ramesh Susarla and

G.V. Ramana Rao

VIJAYAWADA, AUG. 28. The Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Saturday, asked the Opposition not to "politicise the human tragedy", referring to the stampede near Prakasam barrage in which five people were killed on the first day of Pushkarams.

Announcing the transfer of the district Collector, K. Prabhakar Reddy, and the Commissioner of Police, T. Krishna Prasad, holding them "morally responsible" for the incident, Dr. Reddy said a one-man inquiry commission, headed by the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA), R.C. Samal, would probe into the incident.

Fielding questions from reporters at an impromptu press conference at the Government General Hospital, the Chief Minister said the officials had a "vicarious responsibility".

`Fearless' CM

Asked if it was a political decision to transfer the Collector and the CP, Dr. Reddy replied in the negative. On whether he was afraid of criticism from the Opposition, he said: "I am not afraid of political criticism on the incident. For that matter, I am not afraid of anybody."

Officials suspended

"Action will be taken on those responsible for the tragedy, once the Commission of Inquiry gives its report within a week. But, prima-facie fault lies with the Irrigation, Revenue and Municipal Administration officials, who have been placed under suspension," he added. All officials in the irrigation department, responsible for the arrangements at the apron, from the level of Superintendent Engineer down the line were suspended, he said.

After inspecting the causeway near the concrete apron, he likened the stampede to the Alipiri incident and said his Government would do a better job in taking punitive measures against those responsible.

Shoddy work

The incident was in no way linked to the releasing of funds for the Pushkaram works as was being alleged by the Opposition, he said. He, however, refused to comment on the quality of Pushkaram works, but agreed that the work at the scene of occurrence "was not up to the mark." "I am not technically competent to comment on the quality of work, but I could detect improper grouting of the steel railing," he said.

Dr. Reddy criticised the TDP for taking political mileage out of the tragedy. "But the mud-slinging does not worry me as ours is a pro-active Government. The Government takes the moral responsibility for the tragedy," he said.

He said a committee under the chairmanship of the Minister for Municipal Administration, Koneru Ranga Rao, with people's representatives as its members would review the arrangements and facilities at the ghats on a daily basis. Dharna by police personnel in protest against the delay in serving of food packets was `unbecoming' of a disciplined force, he concluded.

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