At least nine people were killed on Saturday after a stampede broke out on the premises of Kasibugga temple in Andhra Pradesh. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also instructed local officials to provide speedy treatment to the injured and requested the local officials and public representatives to visit the site of the incident and oversee the relief measures. Governor S Abdul Nazeer confirmed that the stampede took place at Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Srikakulam district due to the heavy rush of pilgrims.
“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. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X.
What exactly happened?
Officials said the stampede took place while a large number of people were gathered at the Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga. The heavy rush of devotees had led to overcrowding on the temple premises — resulting in a sudden stampede. At least nine people were killed, and several others were rushed to nearby hospitals with injuries. Police teams were rushed immediately to the site and additional forces remain deployed in the area.
“The stampede incident at the Venkateswara Temple in Kashibugga in Srikakulam district has caused a shock. The death of devotees in this tragic incident is extremely heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. I have instructed the officials to provide speedy and proper treatment to those who have been injured. I have requested the local officials and public representatives to visit the site of the incident and oversee the relief measures,” Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu wrote on X.
The Chief Minister’s Office also said that State Agriculture Minister K Atchannaidu had reached the accident site soon after the incident. He spoke with the temple authorities to gather details about the incident.