Eight killed, 10 injured

PNS | Ongole

As many as eight persons were killed and 10 others were injured when stampede took place in the Telugu Desam party chief N Chandrababu Naidu road show at Kandukur town on the evening of Wednesday.

Massive crowds attended Chandrababu Naidu’s meeting. When TDP leaders were addressing the crowds, a stampede suddenly took place and some persons fell into a drain located near to the place. Sometime later, noticing the untoward incidents, the TDP leader stopped addressing the programme.

The deceased were identified as Devineni Ravindra (73) of Atmakur, Kalavakuru Yanadi (53) of Kondaudusupale village, Yatagiri Vijay (35) of Ulavapadu village, Kakumanu Raja (50) of Kanuduru, Utukuri Purushottam (56), Maralapati China Kondaiah (55) and Gadda Madhubabu and Ramaiah (45), One deceased is yet to be identified.

The injured were undergoing treatment in the GGH where the condition of two persons is said to be critical.The area resonated with screams and shouting of victims for help after the untoward incident. Thousands of people went forward towards the makeshift dais to listen to the speech of Naidu. In the melee, a stampede took place resulting in some people falling into the six feet deep drain. All the seven died of suffocation.  

Chandrababu Naidu announced Rs 10 lakh ex gratia to the bereaved families.Naidu, who abruptly cancelled his road show, went to the hospital and visited the injured. Naidu announced that he was saddened with the death of TDP activists.He assured the bereaved families to extend all needed help and education to their children through the NTR trust.