Large crowd for Ekadashi celebrations leads to fatal chaos at Kasibugga.
A holy day of prayer turned into a scene of tragedy in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday. A horrific Andhra Pradesh temple stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga town has resulted in the deaths of at least nine devotees. The incident, which occurred in the Srikakulam district, also left several other people injured.
The stampede took place during the auspicious occasion of Ekadashi, which had drawn a massive crowd to the temple. According to official statements, the sheer number of people led to severe overcrowding and chaos on the temple premises. Eyewitnesses reported a sudden panic, which caused people to fall and be trampled in the surge.
Disturbing visuals from the Kasibugga Venkateswara Swamy Temple showed devotees lying motionless on the ground in the aftermath of the stampede.
Rescue operations were launched immediately, with police and emergency teams rushing to the scene. The injured were quickly transported to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment. Officials on site have expressed concern that the death toll from the Srikakulam temple tragedy could rise further as rescue efforts continue. Given Srikakulam's proximity to Odisha, this Andhra-Odisha border incident has caused widespread alarm among devotees in both states.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed his deep shock over the incident. In a statement, he called the loss of life "extremely heartbreaking" and extended his deepest condolences to the families of the devotees killed in the stampede.
The Chief Minister has instructed officials to ensure that all injured individuals receive prompt and proper medical care. He has also requested local officials and public representatives to visit the site and oversee the relief measures. State Agriculture Minister K Atchannaidu arrived at the temple shortly after the incident to assess the situation and coordinate the response. Additional police forces have been deployed to manage the crowd and restore order.
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