Agencies

Vijayawada, Jan 3: Five women and a child were killed and 18 injured in a stampede at a bathing ghat near Kanakdurga temple on Thursday.

Thousands of devotees had thronged the Durga ghat on the occasion of the last day of 'Bhavani Deeksha' (a religious ceremony). As they pushed each other to move ahead some of them fell, resulting in the stampede, police said.

After taking bath, pilgrims visit the popular temple located on a hillock.

Of the injured, ten were admitted to the local government hospital, while the rest were discharged after first aid, they added. One of the injured, a woman, is stated to be in a serious condition.

State Endowment Minister J Ratnakar Rao has ordered a departmental inquiry into the incident and blamed the temple authorities for failing to make proper arrangements for the pilgrims.

The government has announced Rs one lakh ex-gratia for the kin of those killed and Rs 10,000 for each of the injured.

Vijayawada MP L Rajgopal and local MLA Devineni Rajasekhar visited the government hospital where the injured were admitted.