Collector Siddharth Jain on Wednesday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the mishap occurred during the float festival at a temple in Kalattur village of Varadaiahpalem mandal on Tuesday night in which two persons drowned.
During the Teppotsavam (float festival) at Venkateswara temple on the last day of the nine-day Thai Amavasya fete, the vessel (boat) with a capacity to carry around 20 people was doing the last three rounds in a tank spread over 20 acres. Former MLA, Talari Manohar, along with his followers, came to the venue. When the MLA was boarding the boat, several of his followers and villagers also jumped into the vessel and it capsized. All people on the boat swam to the bank, except one Subramanyam (55) and his grandson Vamsi (11) who drowned.
The body of Subramanyam was fished out at around midnight, and that of the boy on Wednesday morning. The deceased hailed from Nelapattu village of Sullurpeta mandal of Nellore district.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that the mishap occurred due to overloading of the vessel which was driven by the villagers, instead of experienced boatmen.
Locals alleged that though the temple comes under the Endowments Department, the officials did not respond to their appeal to hold the festival in a proper manner.
The Collector ordered the Tehsildar of Varadaiahpalem mandal to conduct a probe on the entire episode and submit a report. An ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh each has been announced for the deceased.
During Teppotsavam at Kalattur village, the boat capsized in a pond, resulting in two deaths
