At least nine devotees died in a stampede at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, Kasibugga (Srikakulam) during Ekadashi; rescue teams and CMO respond.
Kasibugga Temple Stampede Claims Nine Lives
At least nine devotees were killed and several others injured in a deadly stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga (Kashibugga) town, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, during Ekadashi prayers on Saturday. Rescue teams rushed to the scene and the injured were shifted to nearby hospitals as officials warned the death toll could rise.
Disturbing visuals from the temple premises showed devotees lying motionless after the crush, prompting an immediate response from local police and emergency services to control the crowd and start relief operations. Authorities say the stampede was triggered by extreme overcrowding during the auspicious Ekadashi observance, a peak time for temple visits and ritual darshan.
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office described the incident as “extremely heartbreaking,” with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressing deep shock and offering condolences to the bereaved families. The CMO said officials were instructed to provide prompt medical care and that local public representatives should oversee relief measures at the site. State Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu also visited the temple to meet authorities and assess the situation.
Local police have deployed additional forces to manage the crowd and facilitate rescue work and district health facilities are prioritizing treatment for the injured. Eyewitness accounts and early official statements indicate the rush began when a large group of devotees assembled for the festival rites, producing chaos in a confined area and leading to the fatal crush. Investigation teams will examine crowd control lapses and temple management protocols to determine the exact cause.
