In a tragic incident, stampede took place at fish prasadam in Hyderabad killing a person and injuring scores. Thousands of people who had been waiting at the gates of Kattedan stores in city for getting fish medicine have rushed the moments the gates were opened. This led to jostling. Over 20 persons were reportedly fallen and became victims in the stampede. All of them were immediately rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, one of the injured persons succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment. One of the dead persons has been identified as Gorakh Patil of Maharashtra. All the injured are undergoing treatment at Osmania General Hospital. At least nine injured persons are unconscious and the situation is said to be critical.

The women, children and the aged reportedly faced severe inconvenience due to the inadequate facilities including drinking and shelter. The sources said that aged and women cried loud when the stampede took place due to suffocation.

Responding on the incident, the collector of Rangareddy district, Sheshadri said all arrangements are being made to ensure smooth distribution of fish prasadam. He even stressed that stampede took place as a large number of people arrived at the venue for prasadam. Notably, this is the first time that a person who came to take fish prasadam for curing his asthma, got wild card entry to the hell.

Thousands thronging the venue for fish prasadam is nothing new as it is an annual affair and everyone knew that that scores from across the globe would come to cure their asthma by taking fish prasadam by Bathini Goud family.  The police should have taken extra measures to avoid stampede at the venue. 
(Phani)