A tragic stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, has resulted in the deaths of at least nine devotees, including an adolescent boy, and left several others injured. The incident occurred on Saturday during Ekadashi darshan, a day when large numbers of devotees gather at the temple.
Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh addressed the tragedy, attributing it to an "unknown amount of rush" and what he described as an "unplanned congregation" of devotees. He noted that a majority of the pilgrims were first-time visitors, and the slow accumulation of people resulted in an unmanageable crowd. Lokesh stated that the temple's entry point was closed, which led devotees to use the exit, further exacerbating the congestion.
Initial reports suggest that the stampede was triggered by the collapse of an iron railing near the temple steps, leading to panic among the estimated 15,000 devotees. Srikakulam Superintendent of Police KV Maheswara Reddy described the event as an accident, citing a failure to apply for police bandobust and a lack of necessary permissions. Kasibugga DSP Lakshman Rao added that public fear, fueled by the perception of falling debris, contributed to the chaotic scene, causing people to fall from a significant height. Conflicting reports, however, state that there was no stampede.
Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, along with Minister Nara Lokesh, visited a hospital in Srikakulam to meet with those injured in the stampede and to speak with the doctors. Minister Lokesh conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and assured that the government is providing enhanced medical treatment to the injured. He also mentioned that he had spoken with local officials, Minister Achchennaidu, and local MLA Gauthu Shirish to ensure immediate assistance to those affected.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed his profound grief over the incident, calling it "extremely heartbreaking". He has directed officials to ensure swift and appropriate medical care for the injured. Naidu has also ordered an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the stampede and instructed district officials to oversee relief operations. Furthermore, the Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia payment to the families of the deceased.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences and announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of those who lost their lives, and ₹50,000 for the injured.
The Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, where the tragedy occurred, was reportedly constructed on private land without proper registration or official oversight. Minister Nara Lokesh has stated that the government intends to establish new Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for both temples managed by the Endowments Department and privately run shrines to prevent future incidents.
