Andhra Pradesh: At least three women were killed and several others injured on Sunday in yet another stampede which took place during Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) gift distribution programme following a public meeting in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur, the government said.
The incident comes just three days after the death of eight people during a similar event in Nellore in southern Andhra Pradesh.
Health Minister V Rajani said a woman died on the spot while two others succumbed to injuries while being shifted to a hospital.
A police official said that as soon as the organisers started distributing gifts, including sarees, the crowd swelled and they pushed the barricades away leading to a stampede.
The gift distribution began after Chandrababu Naidu left the venue upon addressing the public meeting at Guntur.
Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy expresses shock
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock over the stampede at Guntur which claimed lives of three women.
He instructed the officials to ensure quality medicare to those injured and stand by the families of deceased.
Three women were killed and 13 others injured in the stampede during distribution of Sankranti gifts by the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
A woman died on the spot while two others succumbed at Government General Hospital.
Home Minister V Rajini, who visited the hospital, blamed Naidu for the deaths. She alleged that people were losing lives due to his publicity tricks.
Jagan Mohan Reddy had slammed Naidu for the incident and remarked that his craze for publicity cost human lives.
The ruling YSR Congress Party alleged that Naidu is organising road shows and public meetings in narrow lanes to show that large number of people were attending his programmes.
(With inputs from PTI, IANS)
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