With hours to go for fish prasadam distribution by the Bathini Goud family, the authorities on Thursday started frantically working to ferry people to the venue, Kattedan stadium in Rajendranagar mandal of Ranga Reddy district, by arranging special buses. But the confusion over the venue — the event was held at the exhibition grounds in Nampally till last year — prevailed even on the eve of the annual affair. The event, beginning at 8.30 am on Friday, will go on till 8.30 am Saturday.
On Thursday, Ranga Reddy district collector V. Seshadri directed APSRTC to organise special buses from Nampally exhibition grounds, Imli Bun and Jubilee bus stations, airport, railway stations and several other locations in the city to the Kattedan stadium. But indicting the complete chaos over the event, Kushal and Sanjay, brothers who have come from Bhopal, said: “They are not letting us stay on the exhibition grounds. We stayed on the ground overnight last year and left the next day after taking fish (medicine) prasadam. In fact, we lear-nt that the fish prasadam would be given at Katedan after quite a while.”
Ms M. Rita, who has come from Delhi, said, “We were bewildered to find no arrangements here. Then some people told us it would be held elsewhere this year.” Urging people to stay calm, Bathini Harinath Goud said, “There were some issues about signature and stamp of Cyberabad police on passes for the fish prasadam event but it was resolved later.” Meanwhile, Mr V. Seshadri instructed officials to ensure power supply, potable water and adequate sachets, illumination for people staying overnight, mobile toilets, ambulances, doctors and nurses, among other facilities.