Express News Service

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CHITTOOR: THE toll in the stampede at the newly constructed Sri Amma Bhagavan Deeksha Peetham and Oneness Temple at Bathalavallam in Varadaiahpalem mandal, rose to six with three more persons succumbing to injuries late on Wednesday night.

The deceased were identified as Subramanyam (54), a native of Kottayam in Kerala who settled in Sri Lanka, Seethamahalakshmi (36) of Natha Rameswaram in Chebrolu mandal of Guntur district and Enugonda Subramanyam.

Thousands of devotees from all over the country came to participate in the five-day consecration ceremony of Sri Amma Bhagavan Deeksha Peetham and Oneness Temple, which was constructed by the Kalki cult at a cost of Rs 200 crore.

But adequate arrangements were not made by the temple management to regulate the surging crowds,which resulted in the stampede.

Srinivasulu (54), a forest ranger at Jangareddygudem in West Godavari district, Markandeyulu alias Govindaiah of Vizianagaram and Mareppa, a differently abled person from Enumunipalem in East Godavari district died in the incident. Saraswathi (70) of Bhimavaram and Venkatasubbamma of Gannavaram in Krishna district were critically injured.

The police registered a case under Section 304 A of IPC against the trustees of Sri Amma Bhagavan Deeksha Peetham, which was closed down after the stampede. DIG Sujatha Rao and SP Lakshmi Reddy are camping in the village to oversee the investigation process.