Hassan’s Superintendent of Police, Mohammed Sujeetha, has sent an urgent letter to Deputy Commissioner K.S. Lathakumari, appealing for immediate action to manage the surging crowds at the renowned Hasanamba Temple. The police chief warned that the unchecked influx of devotees poses a serious risk of stampedes, necessitating swift intervention.
Dated October 17, the letter detailed the overwhelming number of worshippers arriving for ‘darshana’ (sacred viewing) of the deity. Even the special queues for devotees who had bought tickets, priced at ₹1,000 and ₹300, were stretching for several kilometers, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
The SP expressed concern that the devotee count is expected to rise further in the coming days, coinciding with festival holidays. She emphasized that Hassan, being a compact city with a congested area surrounding the temple, is particularly vulnerable. ‘If visitor numbers remain consistently high, the situation could spiral out of control, potentially resulting in stampedes and other unfortunate incidents,’ her letter stated. To preserve law and order, she specifically recommended limiting the number of KSRTC buses transporting pilgrims from neighboring districts.
A stern warning accompanied the appeal: the police department would disclaim responsibility for any stampedes or critical situations that might arise if no concrete steps are taken to regulate the number of temple-goers.
The Hasanamba Temple commenced its annual public opening on October 10, and since then, hundreds of thousands of people have thronged the site daily. To accommodate this massive turnout, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has deployed additional special buses. Despite these efforts, devotees frequently endure several hours of waiting for a brief glimpse of the revered deity.
Notably, over 3.7 lakh visitors converged at the temple in the 24 hours leading up to Saturday morning (October 18, 2025). Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda, who also oversees the Hassan district, is reportedly working alongside senior officials to manage the enormous crowds. The temple is scheduled to close its doors to the public on October 23.