22 pilgrims killed in Maha Pushkaralu stampede in Andhra Pradesh
Reports said several others have been injured in the incident and the death toll is likely to rise.
The Godavari Pushkaralu festival is being held on river Godavari's banks.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is at the spot to monitor the situation. The bodies of victims, all women, were shifted to Rajahmundry government hospital.
The stampede took place when the devotees rushed to take a holy dip in the river at Kotagummam pushkar ghat at the time of sunrise.
The festival, "Maha Pushkaralu", celebrates rivers and draws huge crowds for taking holy dips.
The festival, known as the "Kumbh of south" occurs once every 144 years.
This is the first time the festival is being held after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
The 12-day-long 'Godavari Pushkaram' in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana began on Tuesday.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Telengana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao also took dips on Tuesday morning in rivers considered holy in their states.
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