Judicial inquiry into Guntur stampede begins

PNS|Vijayawada

The judicial inquiry into the stampede incident during the distribution of sarees in Guntur started at Guntur on Thursday. A committee headed by retired judge Justice B. Seshasayana Reddy examined the scene of the Guntur stampede. The government appointed the inquiry committee under the guidance of a retired judge.

Justice B Seshasayana Reddy on Thursday visited the Vikas institutions ground in Sadashiv Nagar in Guntur where the stampede took place and examined the scene. The distribution of Sankranti gifts was organised by Telugu Desam leader and NRI Vuyyuru Srinivas.

Guntur District Collector Venugopal Reddy, SP Arif Hafeez, and police personnel accompanied Justice Seshasayana Reddy. The officials said that on the first of this month, a stampede took place when a distribution programme was organised under the auspices of Uyyuru Foundation’s Srinivas in the name of ‘Sankranti Kanuka’. Three women lost their lives and several others were injured in the stampede.

Retired Judge Seshasayana Reddy inquired about the stampede at the venue, the place where the incident took place, and the conditions at the time. He spoke to some of the victims. Those who supervised the programme were called and they were asked some questions.

He asked how many people were appointed to organise and manage the meeting efficiently. After inspecting the incident site, he met the family members of the victims. Information regarding the incident was also collected from them. The details like the time of the incident and the time when the affected families came to know of it.

It may be recalled that TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu attended the programme on January 1 and gave away gifts to some people in the name of ‘Sankranti Kanuka’. After he left the venue, the organisers started distribution and a stampede took place as everyone rushed for gifts. Fifty-two-year-old Gopideshi Ramadevi of AT Agraharam died on the spot. Injured Syed Asia and Sk Janbee died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.