PM Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the stampede on the banks of River Godavari in Rajahmundry Andhra Pradesh on the first day of Pushkaralu festival. Modi said he spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and discussed the situation with him. “Deeply pained at the loss of lives due to stampede at Rajahmundry. My condolences to the families of the deceased & prayers with the injured,” he tweeted. “Spoke to CM @ncbn & discussed the situation with him. The State Government is working to restore normalcy,” he said. The incident occurred when a large number of people were moving forward to take a holy dip in the river, said Kulasekhar, dy SP East Godavari district. The Pushkaralu festival, which is observed once in 12 years, this time is considered auspicious from astronomical point of view as it is Maha Pushkaralu which comes once in 144 years.
