HYDERABAD: A stampede on the banks of a holy river killed at least 29 pilgrims yes-terday in southern India, signalling a tragic beginning to a religious festival season, offi cials said. The stampede broke out at around 8am in Rajahmundry, on the border ofthe twin states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana about two hours after the start of the Maha Pushkaralu festival which sees thousands of people bathe in the waters of the Goda- vari river. Twenty-nine people have now been confirmed dead in the stampede and another 29 are injured, "a spokesman for Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister Chan drababu Naidu said after police earlier put the number of dead at five." At least two of the 29 injured are. critical, "the spokesman Parakala Prabhakar said. While the identities ofall the victims had yet to become clear, a senior police officer said the dead included at least four women and a 15-year-old girl.