A stampede at the distribution of ‘Fish Prasadam’, an annual event attracting thousands of asthma patients from different parts of the country, left a person dead and 12 others injured at Rajendranagar here on Friday.

The stampede started when the police opened the gates around 9 a.m.

The victim was identified as Gorakh Patel, 60, from Maharashtra State. Jostled and shoved by the crowd, he fell unconscious and was shifted to a nearby hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.

‘Fish prasadam’ distribution, organised by a Bathini family hailing from Old City with the cooperation of the State Government, is being held at the present venue for the first time.

Normally, every year it is held at the sprawling Exhibition Ground at Nampally in the heart of the State capital. There was confusion over the venue this year with the Government not announcing the final decision till two days ago.

The Government announced the venue on Wednesday evening that it should be held Katedan sports complex.

With the decision taken in the last minute, adequate infrastructural arrangements like counters, drinking water facilities, queue lines and barricades were not made. With the police not allowing the people intending to take the ‘prasadam’ enter the complex till morning, thousands gathered outside the main gate.