Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded on Sunday as families, consumed by inconsolable grief and loud sobs, performed the final rites for nine individuals who perished in a stampede at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district, on Saturday.
A profound sense of sorrow enveloped the villages of Rameswaram, Sivaramapuram, and Pittala Sariya, where the victims resided.
Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and Minister of Agriculture Kinjarapu Atchannaidu visited the grieving families on Sunday. They extended their condolences and assured them of ongoing government support. Each affected family received ₹15 lakh as ex gratia from the State government, with an additional ₹2 lakh from the Union government’s PM Relief Fund promised soon. The ministers also confirmed that 25 injured individuals were receiving advanced medical care in various hospitals.
New Guidelines for Crowd Management Forthcoming
Addressing the media in Nandigama, Mr. Rammohan Naidu stated that the government plans to introduce comprehensive guidelines for crowd management at all temples to prevent future tragedies.
Meanwhile, District Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar and MLA Gondu Shankar distributed cheques of ₹3 lakh to each of the injured patients admitted to GEMS Hospital in Ragole village.
Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy visited the temple site to investigate the causes behind the stampede.
Focus on Temple Safety and Development
Later, Minister Ramanarayana Reddy announced the formation of a committee to meticulously examine all aspects of the incident. While acknowledging Trustee Hari Mukund Panda’s commendable efforts in the temple’s construction, the minister highlighted the oversight in ensuring devotee safety during Karteeka Ekadashi, which led to immense suffering. He assured that the government would take measures to develop the temple, incorporating insights from Agama Shastra experts.
He also confirmed that the temple would remain closed for darshan for several weeks. According to temple traditions, special rituals in adherence to Agama Shastra would be performed before the temple reopens to devotees.
In related news, BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav, Anakapalle MP C.M. Ramesh, and Etcherla MLA N. Eswara Rao visited and consoled the injured at Palasa area hospital.
YSRCP leader Dharmana Krishnadas urged the government to increase the ex gratia to ₹25 lakh for the deceased’s families and ₹5 lakh for the injured.