At least seven people died in a stampede at a roadshow addressed by TDP chief and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu in Kandukur town in Nellore district on Wednesday evening.
The seven deceased TDP supporters, who came to attend the rally, reportedly fell into a drainage canal. A few more injured were rushed to the hospitals.
Speaking later, Naidu expressed dismay over the loss of lives. He announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh per family of each of the deceased from the party.
“It is very unfortunate that our TDP family members, who came for the meeting, lost their lives. I will assist their families in every way, including supporting the education of children in their families through the NTR trust. We will also support the injured till they recover fully,” Naidu said.
Naidu later visited the injured and the families of the deceased at the government area hospital. He asked local leaders to stay back in Kandukur till the last rites of the dead are complete.
The opposition leader is touring the AP districts as part of the TDP's programme “Idem kharma mana rashtraniki” (why this ill fate for AP?). Addressing roadshows and rallies, Naidu has been accusing the Jaganmohan Reddy government of failing the state in development, administration, among other aspects.
Reacting to the incident, AP BJP chief Somu Veerraju said that political parties and police should take enough care to avoid such mishaps in public rallies.
“Police should provide bundobust for the opposition rallies like they do for the government meetings. The state should also support the deceased families though the unfortunate incident occurred in a political party meeting,” Somu said.