10 Killed, Many Injured in Temple Stampede at Andhra Pradesh

Kasibugga (Andhra Pradesh): A tragic stampede at the Venkateswara temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district, on Saturday claimed the lives of 10 people, while several others were injured, according to officials. The incident occurred around 11:30 AM as devotees gathered at the temple.
Kasibugga sub-division in-charge DSP Lakshman Rao confirmed that the stampede took place during the ongoing religious rituals. District Collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar stated that seven people died on the spot, while others succumbed to their injuries after being taken for treatment. He added that most of the victims were women.
Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha informed that at least five people were injured in the incident. She also mentioned that most of the deceased were between the ages of 35 and 40.
According to the Home Minister, the temple is located on the first floor of a building, and as devotees were climbing, the railing broke. This led to people falling off the edge and others tumbling on top of them, causing a pile-up of casualties.
Anitha also pointed out that the Kasibugga Venkateswara temple is privately owned and is not managed by the Endowments Department. The temple usually attracts between 1,500 to 2,000 devotees every Saturday, she noted. The tragedy was further exacerbated by the large crowds gathered for the auspicious occasion of Ekadasi, which coincided with ‘Karthika Masam,’ leading to an even larger turnout at the temple.

Reacting to the incident, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, in a post on X said, "The stampede at Kasibugga Venkateswara temple in Srikakulam district anguished me. It is very sad that devotees have died in this unfortunate incident. I convey my deepest sympathies to the families of the victims."
The Chief Minister also assured that the injured would receive better medical care and that local authorities and leaders would oversee relief efforts at the scene of the tragedy.