At least ten people, mostly women, lost their lives and several others were injured in a stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, located in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district, on Saturday, November 1. Officials fear the toll may rise as some of the injured remain in critical condition. The tragedy occurred when a large crowd gathered at the temple to observe Ekadashi, resulting in severe overcrowding and chaos inside the complex.
Following the incident, the injured were immediately shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. Senior police officials reached the spot and additional personnel were deployed to manage the situation and assist in ongoing rescue operations. Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu also rushed to the temple and held discussions with temple authorities regarding the incident.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that PM Narendra Modi is deeply pained by the tragedy and has wished for the swift recovery of the injured. As a relief measure, the Prime Minister announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 for those injured. The state government has also taken steps to ensure better crowd management to prevent such incidents in the future.
