In Kurnool's Deveragattu, thousands on Monday night participated in a ritual that involved fighting with sticks with burning torches in hand. Members belonging to the Boya and Kurava communities reportedly engaged a stick fight as part of the Banni tradition.

As many as 50 people got injured in the clashes. They have been rushed to Alur and Adoni hospitals, a report says.

The festival was actually banned keeping in view the pandemic. Section 144 was invoked by the district administration to keep congregations at bay. Despite the best efforts of the administration, as many as 30,000 people took part in the Banni festival celebrations, after 11 pm.

A report by The Print says that hundreds of cops who were deployed near the temple couldn't ensure that crowds didn't gather. The crowds appeared on the scene all of a sudden. No cop could see it coming.