9 die in stampede at temple in Andhra

Nine people, including a child, died and several people were injured in a stampede in a private temple at Kasibugga town of Palasa constituency in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh after a large number of devotees gathered on the occasion of Ekadashi during the holy month of Kartik.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and announced that Rs two lakh will be paid as ex-gratia to the next of kin of the dead. Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu blamed the temple authorities for not informing the local administration about the large gathering and ordered an inquiry into the incident, which saw eight women and a thirteen-year-old child die due to overcrowding.

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The opposition YSRCP blamed the state government for the repeated incidents of stampede at the temples.

Visuals of the stampede were deeply disturbing, with many women screaming as they were trapped in a narrow corridor between the walls and steel railings.

According to the state government, the temple, opened just four months ago, is still under construction. However, it has become quite popular among the locals who refer to it as “small Tirupati.”

The stampede occurred around 11:45 am. At that time, more than 15,000 people had gathered at the temple and the crowd surged when the gates were thrown open.

A steel railing collapsed, triggering panic and a stampede ensued, which left seven people dead at the spot, while two more deaths occurred at the hospital. A total of 15 people were shifted to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Palasa. While the conditions of ten people are stable, three are currently critical.

The Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Kasibugga in Palasa constituency was set up by a local, Mukunda Panda. A private temple, it is not registered with the endowment department.

Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said, “Unfortunately, the organisers did not inform the police or local authorities. Had they informed us, we would have provided police protection and controlled the crowd.” He assured that a thorough inquiry will be held and stern action will be taken against those responsible.

Following the stampede, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, “Pained by the stampede in Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.”

State minister Nara Lokesh, Union civil aviation minister and local MP Ram Mohan Naidu and state home minister V Anitha rushed to Kashibugga following the incident. Meanwhile, expressing grief over the deaths, former chief minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy pointed out similar incidents that have taken place, including six people dying during Vaikunta Ekadasi in Tirupati and the death of seven people at Simhachalam, also due to stampedes.

“This repeated loss of innocent lives reflects the inefficiency of Chandrababu Naidu’s administration,” said Reddy.