Srikakulam Stampede: 10 Dead in Crowd Surge at Kasibugga Venkateswara Swamy Temple During Ekadashi

At least ten devotees were killed and several others injured in a stampede at the Kasibugga Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, on Tuesday. The incident occurred at around 11.30 am when a large crowd gathered at the temple to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion of Ekadashi.

"Total 10 deaths. Seven on the spot and three while undergoing treatment," Srikakulam District Collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar told PTI and added that most of the victims are women.

Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha noted that at least five people were injured. She said at least seven of the dead are in the age group of 35-40. According to her, the temple is located at an elevation on the first floor, and when the devotees were climbing, the railing broke off, resulting in the people standing at a corner falling off and others dropping on them.

Observing that Kasibugga Venkateswara temple is a private one and not under the Endowments Department, Anitha said it is common to see 1,500 to 2,000 devotees turn up here every Saturday. Further, she noted that the auspicious occasion of Ekadasi coinciding with 'Karthika Masam' on a Saturday aggravated the tragedy as multitudes thronged the temple.

Rescue teams, along with local police and medical staff, were immediately deployed to the site. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals in Kasibugga and Srikakulam for treatment. Officials have confirmed that the death toll could rise as some of the injured are in critical condition.

District Collector and senior police officials visited the temple to oversee rescue and relief efforts. State Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu also reached the spot to assess the situation and coordinate with local authorities. Additional police forces have been stationed at the temple premises to manage the crowd and prevent further incidents.

Witnesses described the scene as one of panic and confusion. "It all happened within seconds. People began to push forward, and the railing broke. Many fell, and others tripped trying to save themselves," said a survivor who was among the devotees present during the stampede.

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."

Governor of Andhra Pradesh Sri S. Abdul Nazeer expressed anguish and profound grief on the death of nine pilgrims in the stampede that took place in Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Kasibugga in Srikakulam district, on Saturday, due to heavy rush of pilgrims. He offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and directed the district administration to provide better medical care to the injured pilgrims.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said he was pained by the stampede incident in Srikakulam and announced ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the kin of the victims. The PMO also announced ₹50,000 for the injured persons.

"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," the PMO said in a post on X.

The Kasibugga Venkateswara Swamy Temple is one of the most revered shrines in the Srikakulam district and attracts thousands of devotees, particularly during Ekadashi and other major festivals.