In the wake of a devastating stampede at the Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh that resulted in the deaths of at least 10 individuals, the temple’s founder, 95-year-old Harimukund Panda, has stated that he did not anticipate such a massive turnout. Panda, a member of an Odisha royal family, mentioned that the temple has never experienced crowds of this scale before. Reports suggest that the tragedy occurred due to a surge in devotees during Ekadashi, a situation compounded by high levels of suffocation, as indicated by Andhra minister Nara Lokesh.
Minister Lokesh explained that despite the temple having separate entry and exit points, the overwhelming rush led to the closure of the entrance. This prompted attendees to attempt using the exit route, causing severe congestion and suffocation. Panda, who funded the temple’s construction with ₹10 crore four years ago, was quoted as saying, “Nobody is responsible, it was an act of god.” Despite this statement, a case has been registered against him as the investigation into the stampede progresses.
Recounting the events, Panda expressed his surprise at the sudden influx of people, stating, “Every day, devotees come. They have darshan and leave. I thought it would be the same today. Suddenly, a huge crowd came.” He mentioned that typically, 3,000 to 4,000 devotees visit daily without issue. He also shared that his decision to build the temple was influenced by a negative experience with large crowds at Tirumala Srivari, where he felt people were being pushed and shoved.
The minister further elaborated on the causes, noting, “At 11.30 am, because there was an unknown amount of rush, the entry point was closed. Many people who attended felt that they could use the exit route. That created a lot of suffocation. The entry has steps, so the person on the top tripped and fell; this resulted in a cascading effect. Also, the queue planners were not prepared for such a crowd.” He added that most of the deceased were women and detailed the coordinated rescue efforts involving government officials.