A day of devotion turned into a nightmare in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district on Saturday when a stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga killed at least 10 people, most of them women.
The chaos unfolded during Ekadashi celebrations, when hundreds of devotees surged into a narrow corridor to offer prayers at the private hilltop shrine. The situation spiralled out of control after a metal railing gave way, trapping worshippers who had nowhere to move.
Panic, screams and chaos, videos capture the horror
Disturbing videos from the scene showed scores of women clutching puja baskets, pressed shoulder to shoulder, screaming for help as the crowd pushed forward.
Some devotees tried to climb railings and window frames to escape the crush, while others stretched out hands to pull people to safety.
In one clip, relatives can be seen desperately performing CPR and rubbing victims’ palms in a last-ditch attempt to revive them. Others were seen collapsing from exhaustion as cries filled the narrow corridor.
The visuals, now widely circulated on social media, have sparked outrage and grief across the state.
How the tragedy unfolded
Police officials told PTI, the stampede erupted around 11:30 am as devotees ascended the temple’s narrow staircase. The railing snapped, causing those at the top to fall and triggering a chain reaction as others tumbled onto them.
“Total 10 deaths, seven on the spot and three while undergoing treatment,” said Srikakulam District Collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar, confirming that most victims were women aged between 35 and 40.
The temple is a privately run shrine not under the state’s Endowments Department. On most Saturdays, it draws 1,500–2,000 devotees, but the Ekadashi coinciding with Karthika Masam led to unprecedented crowds, officials said.
Shock and grief as rescue efforts continue
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu called the incident 'heartbreaking' and said he was 'deeply anguished' by the loss of lives.
“The stampede at Kasibugga Venkateswara temple in Srikakulam anguished me. It is very sad that devotees have died in this unfortunate incident,” Naidu posted on X, adding that officials have been directed to ensure immediate medical attention and monitor relief operations.
Governor S Abdul Nazeer also expressed grief, directing authorities to provide the best possible care to the injured.
Meanwhile, the temple town remained tense through the evening as rescue teams and police cleared the site, assisting families who arrived to identify loved ones.
Safety concerns under spotlight
Preliminary reports suggest overcrowding and structural lapses played a key role in the tragedy.
Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said the railing collapse triggered the stampede, adding that crowd control and safety measures were insufficient.
She said the government will review crowd management protocols for private temples across the state to prevent similar incidents.
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