The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Stampede: Naidu, BJP express shock

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Friday, Jan 04, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Stampede: Naidu, BJP express shock

Special Correspondent

Wants government to sanction Rs. 5 lakh as ex gratia
Blames authorities for inadequate steps to tackle rush

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock at the death of six pilgrims in the stampede at Kanakadurga temple in Vijayawada on Thursday.

In a statement, Mr. Naidu, blamed the temple board, Endowment Department and the police for the tragedy and said the authorities failed to anticipate the rush on the last day of the four day ‘deeksha’ by devotees. The government could not mobilise sufficient number of police and volunteers to control the crowd.

He wanted the government to sanction Rs. 5 lakh as ex gratia to the next of the kin of those who died in the stampede, Rs. 2 lakh to seriously injured and Rs. 1 lakh to those who suffered minor injuries.

In a separate statement, BJP State president Bandaru Dattatreya too held the authorities responsible; saying if they had taken adequate precautionary measures, the tragedy could have been averted. He also wanted the government to pay Rs. 5 lakh as ex gratia.Blame authorities for taking inadequate measures to tackle rush

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