A 65-year-old man was killed and 20 others were injured in a stampede at a sports complex, the venue of the annual free distribution of fish medicine for asthma patients, at Katedan here on Friday.
Gorakh Patel from Maharashtra, who suffered grievous injuries in the stampede, died in Osmania Hospital. Police blamed the sudden change of venue, short notice of less than 24 hours and lack of proper barricades for the casualty.
As soon as the news of the death spread, the state government instructed District Collector Ranga Reddy to provide basic amenities and security at the camp site.
Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi held an emergency meeting with officials and announced “all possible help” to the injured being treated in Osmania General Hospital.
The Bathini family has been distributing fish medicine (prasadam) at Nampally Exhibition Grounds. However, this year, the government changed the venue to the Katedan sports complex, which is not big enough to accommodate the people who come to take the medicine.
Chaos ensued as the authorities failed to make proper arrangements at the sports complex, located about 10 km from the old venue.
Officials said the competition to get the prasadam led to stampede while lack of proper arrangements and basic needs like drinking water contributed to the mayhem.
As there was no first-aid facility and as the vehicular movement stopped five kilometres from the venue, the shifting of injured to the hospital was delayed.
“The state government intentionally sabotaged the distribution (of prasadam). This is a traditional Telangana medicine for asthma given free of cost to the poor,” said Nizamabad MP Madhu Yashki Goud.
Telangana Rashtra Samiti spokesperson Shravan Kumar demanded Rs 10 lakh compensation for the bereaved family of Gorakh Patel and people condemned the “casual attitude” of the government towards the annual event.
Shiva Kumar, a businessman from Karnataka, said: “There is no drinking water this time or shelter from the scorching sun. We expect that at least basic facilities are provided to people.”