A tragic stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy temple in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, resulted in the deaths of at least 10 individuals on Saturday. Officials fear the death toll may rise, as several devotees sustained critical injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.
The incident, which occurred during the Ekadashi observance, was attributed by police to a sudden surge in the crowd. This led to overcrowding and a subsequent crush, causing the fatalities.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his deep anguish over the incident, extending his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. “The stampede at Kasibugga Venkateswara temple in Srikakulam district has deeply saddened me,” he stated on X. “It is incredibly unfortunate that devotees have lost their lives in this incident. My deepest sympathies go out to the bereaved families.”
What caused the stampede?
The temple witnessed an unusually large gathering of devotees on Saturday for Ekadashi. The immense rush and subsequent overcrowding created a dangerous situation, culminating in the fatal stampede.
Injured devotees were promptly transported to nearby hospitals for urgent medical care. Authorities and police swiftly arrived at the scene to manage the situation and restore order.
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VIDEO | Andhra Pradesh: Stampede reported at Venkateswara Temple in Kashibugga in Srikakulam district; several devotees injured, rushed to hospital. More details are awaited.
(Source: Third Party)#AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/dOJxEI4JHC
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State ministers have also voiced their sorrow regarding the incident. Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu expressed his shock and immediately visited the temple premises to assess the situation and speak with authorities.
This unfortunate event brings to mind a similar incident in September, where a crowd surge during an actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur led to multiple fatalities. Investigations into that event pointed to overcrowding and the celebrity’s delayed arrival as contributing factors.