Clear Pushkaralu Traffic On War-Footing: KCR

Keeping the huge influx of pilgrims for the Godavari Pushkaralu in five Telangana districts due to the holidays on Saturday and Sunday in mind, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao today directed the officials concerned to clear the vehicular traffic on a war-footing and station expert swimmers 24 hours a day at the pushkar ghats to avoid stampedes.

At a high-level review meeting at the camp office, the Chief Minister instructed the Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy and the Director General of Police Anurag Sharma to rush police personnel from Hyderabad to these districts to help clear the traffic jams at the toll gates connecting the pushkar districts from the Hyderabad, Nalgonda, Ranga Reddy and other districts. He directed that cranes be used to remove the vehicles that fail on the roads, if any.

KCR asked the officials to ensure hassle-free darshans to the pilgrims after the latter took their dips at the pushkar ghats. KCR directed the officials to organize proper queues at the ghats and temples to avoid jostling and stampedes. He also instructed the officials to take special measures for the aged, the children and the physically challenged.

KCR also asked the ministers in-charge of each of the five districts to provide sufficient water and healthcare facilities, power supply and toilets. He also said that the ministers, and IAS and IPS officials should also coordinate with other departments and make the festivities a grand success as the pushkaralu were being held for the first time in Telangana.