Over 4 crore devotees take dip in Godavari Pushkar in AP

HYDERABAD, July 24, 2015, DHNS:

A record number of 4.14 crore pilgrims had a dip in the holy waters of Godavari river in several ghats of Andhra Pradesh by Friday afternoon.
The numbers are expected to cross the 5 crore mark by Saturday being the last day of the once in 144 year Godavari Maha Pushkarams which started on 14 of this month.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and the state DGP J Ramudu who are camping in Rajahmundry following the stampede at the main ghat on 14th are personally monitoring the situation as the crowds are going to swell by the early hours of Saturday.

Additional police force was summoned from other districts and voluntary organizations were urged to help the civic administration in maintaining queue lines and to provide food and drinking water to pilgrims on the final day of Pushakarsms.

 Meanwhile, pilgrims have begun taking holy dip after midnight on Thursday in Kotilingala, VIP and Main Pushkar ghats.

 In West Godavari district, Narsapur, Sidhantam, Pattiseema and Goshpada ghats have witnessed heavy rush.