10 Dead, Several Injured in Stampede at Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Andhra Pradesh.
PM Modi Announces Rs. 2 Lakh Ex-Gratia for Families of the Deceased; CM Naidu Orders Relief Measures.
Kasibugga (Andhra Pradesh):
In a tragic incident, at least 10 devotees lost their lives and several others were injured in a stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga town, Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday morning.
The mishap occurred around 11:30 a.m., when a large crowd gathered at the temple during Ekadasi, which coincided with the holy month of Karthika Masam — a day considered highly auspicious for worship.
According to Kasibugga sub-division in-charge DSP Lakshman Rao, “The stampede occurred as the devotees were climbing up to the temple situated on an elevated first floor. A railing gave way under the crowd pressure, causing people to fall, triggering panic and chaos.”
Srikakulam District Collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar confirmed that 10 people had died, seven of them on the spot and three while receiving treatment at a hospital. “Most of the victims were women,” he added.
State Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said at least five people sustained injuries and several others were treated for minor wounds. “Preliminary reports indicate that the railing collapse caused the crowd to surge, resulting in the tragedy,” she said. “The victims were mostly between 35 and 40 years of age.”
The Home Minister also mentioned that the Kasibugga Venkateswara Swamy Temple is a private temple and not under the control of the Endowments Department. “Every Saturday, around 1,500 to 2,000 devotees visit the temple. However, due to today’s auspicious occasion, the crowd was unusually large,” she added.
Reacting to the tragedy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families.
“The stampede at Kasibugga Venkateswara temple in Srikakulam district anguished me. It is very sad that devotees have died in this unfortunate incident. I convey my deepest sympathies to the families of the victims,” the Chief Minister wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Naidu also directed officials to ensure the best medical treatment for the injured and instructed local authorities to oversee relief and rescue operations at the site.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the stampede.
“Deeply pained by the loss of lives due to the stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with the bereaved families, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the Prime Minister said.
The district administration has launched an investigation into the incident, and a team of police and revenue officials has been deployed to manage the situation and prevent further chaos.
Authorities are also expected to assess safety protocols at the temple and similar religious sites across the region to avoid such tragedies in the future.
