VIJAYAWADA: Despite foolproof arrangements by government officials to ensure Krishna pushkaralu as a successful event, four people died under four different circumstances, on the first day of the river fete.
Six-year-old Adapa Kiran Kumar slipped into the water at Padmavathi ghat and died on Friday evening. When some pilgrims taking a holy dip in the river found the boy under their feet, they lifted him on to the ghat. The child died as efforts were on to shift him to the Global Hospital in Vijayawada. Kumar hails from Metla Bazar of Krishna Lanka.
In a mishap, head constable of Chittoor district armed reserve force, U Venkat Rao (51) met with a fatal accident at Gudavalli on Friday morning while posted at Gannavaram Airport on deputation for Krishna Pushkarams. According to the Gannavaram police, while Venkata Rao was crossing the road, a speeding Innova hit him. He was shifted to Andhra Hospital here, but succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Appayamma (55), who distributed water packets to pilgrims at Padmavathi ghat, died after she fell while climbing the bus at PNBS due to weakness. Senior citizen Appala Narasaiah (63) hailing from Pendurthi of Visakhapatnam district reached Padmavathi ghat on Thursday night alongwith his family. While relaxing at the ghat, he suffered a stroke and died immediately. His family shifted him back to their home in a private ambulance.
Meanwhile, the State government has announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia and a house for the child’s family and Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia for the head constable’s family.