Three women have died in a stampede at a rally of Telugu Desam president and former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district. This is the second incident in a span of four days that people lost their lives at a public event of Naidu's Telugu Desam Party, which has been holding a series of political meetings across the state in preparation for the 2024 assembly elections in the state.

A top police officer from Andhra Pradesh told to a national daily the public meeting had been completed and Mr Naidu had left the venue for his residence when the tragedy took place.

After the public meeting, there was a programme by local Telugu Desam Party leaders to distribute sarees as gifts from Chandrababu Naidu to the women for Sankranti, the harvest festival coming up in two weeks.

"Some 4,000 women had gathered to get the Chandrababu Sankranti Kanuka. Barricades had been erected, so queues could be maintained. On the other side, dinner packets were being distributed. Suddenly a barricade gave way and the stampede happened," the officer told a news channel.

On Wednesday, eight people -- one of them a woman -- died in a near-stampede in Nellore district during a roadshow by the former Chief Minister. Several people fell in an open canal as locals in Kandukur waited for a glimpse of Mr Naidu, who was coming there for a roadshow.  

Naidu had immediately cancelled the meeting and announced a compensation of ₹ 24 lakh to the families who have lost their loved ones.  
"This is a sad incident. I'm feeling very sorry about it… We will provide financial assistance, medical treatment to the injured and support the education of children,'' Naidu has said.  

Naidu had subsequently continued with his political meetings, which came in for criticism.He, however, has been severely criticised by the ruling YSR Congress, which called it "fake publicity".  Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has blamed the Telugu Desam Party chief for the deaths, saying his "publicity mania" caused the tragedy, and demanded an immediate and public apology. Reddy has expressed shock over the stampede in Guntur. The officials have been directed to provide all possible medical assistance to the injured. He has assured that the government support to the families.

(With inputs from agencies)