A somber atmosphere has descended upon Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, following a tragic stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy temple that claimed the lives of at least 10 devotees. The incident, which took place on Saturday, occurred during a large gathering for the auspicious occasion of Ekadashi. Authorities reported that the death toll was unfortunately expected to rise, as several individuals sustained critical injuries and are receiving medical attention.
Preliminary reports indicate that a sudden surge in the crowd during the Ekadashi festivities led to the fatal crush. The temple premises were overwhelmed with devotees, leading to dangerous overcrowding and a subsequent stampede. Emergency services were promptly dispatched to the scene, and the situation was brought under control. The injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical care.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed his deep anguish over the incident, extending his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. In a statement on X, he described the stampede as a deeply saddening event.
The state’s agriculture minister, K Atchannaidu, also conveyed his shock and visited the accident site immediately to gather details and assess the situation. He has directed officials to ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical treatment.
This unfortunate event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust crowd management strategies at large public gatherings, especially during religious festivals. In a separate incident in September, a similar crowd surge at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur resulted in numerous casualties, with overcrowding and delayed responses cited as contributing factors.