Publicity hype caused Pushkram stampede: Somayajulu commission

Vijayawada: The Somayajulu commission, constituted to probe into the Godavari Pushkarams stampede of 2915, has finally submitted its report. The report says that publicity overdrive was the cause of the stampede. 

The report, tabled on the floor of the house on Wednesday, said that the publicity that these were Maha Pushkarams and that they had come after a gap of 144 years, has led to uncontrollable crowd rush. 

It said that even the publicity about the auspicious time for taking the bath too added to the crowd rush. A section of the media has created unncecessary  hype about the event, it said.