Nine Killed in Stampede at Andhra Pradesh’s Venkateswara Swamy Temple, Probe Ordered

Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh: At least nine devotees, including eight women and a child, were killed and several others injured in a stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga on Saturday. The incident occurred during Ekadashi celebrations when a massive crowd gathered at the temple premises, leading to chaos and panic.

According to police, the tragedy was triggered when an iron railing collapsed amid the heavy rush, causing devotees to fall and get trampled. The privately managed temple had reportedly not sought prior permission from local authorities for the event, and the same entry and exit points worsened the congestion.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and directed officials to provide immediate medical assistance and compensation to victims’ families. He also ordered an inquiry to identify administrative and safety lapses, stressing that negligence would not be tolerated. “The lack of coordination between the organisers and local administration led to this unfortunate tragedy,” Naidu said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed condolences and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as devotees struggled to escape the surging crowd. Rescue teams, including police and fire officials, rushed to the site to evacuate the injured and restore order.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, with preliminary reports pointing to poor crowd management and inadequate safety arrangements. The state government has promised strict action against those found responsible.

The tragedy has reignited debate over crowd safety measures at religious events in Andhra Pradesh, highlighting the urgent need for better planning and regulation of large gatherings.