At least ten people were dead and several others injured in a stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga town of Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district on Saturday, during a massive gathering of devotees for Ekadashi celebrations. Rescue operations are currently underway, and officials fear the death toll may rise further.
According to a statement from the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the incident occurred when a large number of devotees assembled at the temple premises for the auspicious occasion, leading to severe overcrowding and panic among the crowd. Several devotees sustained injuries and were immediately shifted to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
Police teams and emergency personnel rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control. Additional forces were deployed to manage the crowd, assist in rescue operations, and ensure medical aid reached the injured at the earliest.
State Agriculture Minister K Atchannaidu arrived at the temple soon after the incident and held discussions with temple authorities and local officials to assess the situation. Relief and rescue efforts are being carried out on a war footing to prevent further casualties.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives in the incident. “The stampede incident at the Venkateswara Temple in Kashibugga in Srikakulam district has caused a shock. The death of devotees in this tragic incident is extremely heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. I have instructed the officials to provide speedy and proper treatment to those who have been injured. I have requested the local officials and public representatives to visit the site of the incident and oversee the relief measures,” the Chief Minister said.
Authorities have cordoned off the area as investigation teams and disaster response personnel continue to work at the site. Local residents have also joined hands with police and health workers to help in the rescue operations and provide support to the victims’ families.
Officials said the temple area witnessed an unusually large turnout of devotees for Ekadashi this year, with thousands arriving from surrounding villages since early morning. The sudden surge led to congestion near the main entrance of the temple, triggering the stampede.
The state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident to determine the cause of overcrowding and assess lapses in crowd management.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details become available.
Follow us
