Three persons had lost their lives and more than hundred persons were injured in the traditional Banni festival, at Devaragattu in Kurnool district late in the night on October 24.
The midnight event draws thousands of devotees from across the undivided Kurnool district every year.
More than 1,000 policemen were deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
When several persons climbed up a tree near the festival venue to get a better view, a branch gave in and came crashing down, killing Ganesh (19) and Ramanjaneyulu (54). The heavy pushing and jostling witnessed at the temple took the life of Kuruva Prakash (35) of Ballari, who reportedly died due to suffocation. The injured were rushed to the government general hospitals at Aluru and Adoni.
It is a practice for the villagers to gather with sticks and clash with one another on the sidelines of the main festival.
Published - October 25, 2023 02:58 pm IST
