A tragic stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, claimed the lives of at least nine devotees early Tuesday morning. Most of the victims are reported to be women and children, who had gathered in large numbers to offer prayers on the occasion of Ekadashi an auspicious day for Hindus.
The stampede broke out amid a massive rush of devotees trying to ascend the temple staircase for darshan. Videos from the scene showed chaotic visuals hundreds of worshippers, many holding puja baskets, struggling to move through a tightly packed crowd before several people collapsed.
Eyewitnesses reported that panic spread rapidly as devotees fell on the narrow steps, triggering a chain reaction that left many trampled. Several bodies were later seen scattered across the temple premises, while others were rushed to ambulances in critical condition.
Police and temple authorities arrived at the scene soon after and managed to bring the situation under control. Emergency services and medical teams were deployed immediately to assist the injured.
Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer confirmed the death toll and expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. He directed the district administration to ensure prompt and high-quality medical care for those injured.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu termed the incident “heartbreaking” and extended condolences to the families of the victims. “The stampede incident at the Venkateswara Temple in Kasibugga has caused immense grief. The loss of devotees on this auspicious Ekadashi day is deeply saddening. I have instructed officials to provide immediate and proper treatment to all those injured,” Naidu said in an official statement.
The Chief Minister also requested local officials and public representatives to visit the site and oversee the relief and rescue measures personally.
State Minister Nara Lokesh, son of the Chief Minister, expressed profound shock over the tragedy. “A deep sorrow has gripped us on this Ekadashi day. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. The government is ensuring the best possible medical care for the injured,” Lokesh said, adding that he had spoken directly to district officials to expedite assistance to the affected.
As of Tuesday evening, authorities were investigating the cause of the overcrowding and whether crowd management lapses contributed to the disaster. The temple has since been temporarily closed to the public.
