RAJAHMUNDRY, India, July 14 (UPI) -- At least 27 Hindu pilgrims died in a stampede on Tuesday while on the banks of India's holy Godavari river for the start of the Maha Pushkaralu religious festival.
The stampede occurred at about 8 a.m. in the Rajahmundry city of India's southern Andhra Pradesh state. Many of the deceased are senior citizens and women.
Stampedes of the like are common in India during religious festivals. Nearly 24 million people are expected to take part of this year's 12-day Maha Pushkaralu celebration. People believe the bathing in the Godavari river will cleanse them of sins.
The incident reportedly began after a group of people attempted to scale a wall to enter one of the city's many bathing ghats, or steps leading to the river. Authorities could not contain the rush of people, resulting in the deadly stampede.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences:
Deeply pained at the loss of lives due to stampede at Rajahmundry. My condolences to the families of the deceased & prayers with the injured
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 14, 2015Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu requested that people not panic, adding that the situation was brought under control.
"I request to people to head to other Pushkar ghats to avoid overcrowding at single ghat," Naidu said. "Pilgrims' safety is top priority for us."
