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10 feared dead in stampede at Kasibugga temple in Srikakulam The stampede was allegedly triggered after a railing collapsed as hundreds of devotees thronged the temple on the occasion of Ekadasi, which is considered an auspicious day. Synopsis: Officials informed the State Health Minister that 31 people have been injured in the accident, of these, 15 are receiving medical treatment at Palasa Area Hospital and 16 at the Kidney Center. 10 pilgrims including women and children are feared dead following a stampede at Kasibugga Venkateswara Swamy temple in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday, 1 November. The stampede was allegedly triggered after a railing collapsed as hundreds of devotees thronged the temple on the occasion of Ekadasi, which is considered an auspicious day. Official confirmed that 10 people have died, as relief operations continue. However, officials informed the State Health Minister that 31 people have been injured in the accident, of these, 15 are receiving medical treatment at Palasa Area Hospital and 16 at the Kidney Center. The officials are also investigating the cause of the stampede. According to the visuals emerging from the incident, a former minister, Seediri Appala Raju, who is also a doctor was seen in visuals performing CPR on devotees who fell unconscious. In another visual emerging from the incident, a heartbroken mother wailed over her son’s lifeless body, with her anguished cries of “Won’t you get up?” capturing the human tragedy behind the deadly stampede. ‘No prior information’ The Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple operates as a privately-managed religious institution and does not fall under the purview of the state Endowments Department. Endowment Minister Anam Ram Narayana Reddy said that there was no information to government about the festivities. He further added that, while the temple can accommodate around 3,000 people, more than 25,000 turned up. Local legislator Sirisha also said that arrangements would have been made if only authorities were given prior information. According to reports, at the time of the incident, the location where devotees had assembled was allegedly undergoing construction work. A statement issued by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) confirmed that law enforcement teams and emergency responders were immediately dispatched to the scene to bring the situation under control. State Agriculture Minister K Atchannaidu arrived at the temple premises soon after the tragedy occurred and held discussions with temple management to evaluate the circumstances. Authorities have since strengthened police presence at the site to regulate the crowds and support ongoing rescue and relief operations. CM, Ministers express shock Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock and grief over the deaths and directed officials to rush to the place and monitor rescue operations. శ్రీకాకుళం జిల్లాలోని కాశీబుగ్గ వెంకటేశ్వర ఆలయంలో తొక్కిసలాట ఘటన కలచివేసింది. ఈ దురదృష్టకర ఘటనలో భక్తులు మరణించడం అత్యంత విషాదకరం. మృతుల కుటుంబాలకు ప్రగాఢ సానుభూతిని తెలియజేస్తున్నాను. గాయాల పాలైన వారికి మేలైన సత్వర చికిత్స అందించాలని అధికారులను ఆదేశించాను. ఘటనా స్థలానికి వెళ్లి… — N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) November 1, 2025 Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh also responded to the tragedy through social media, stating: “The stampede at the Kasibugga Venkateswara Temple has caused the deaths of several devotees, plunging us into profound shock. A deep sorrow has gripped us on this Ekadashi day.” “I extend my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives,” Lokesh added. “The government is providing better medical treatment to those injured in the stampede.” The minister revealed that he immediately contacted district officials, Minister Achchennaidu, and local MLA Gauthu Shirish upon receiving information about the incident, instructing them to provide immediate assistance to affected individuals. కాశీబుగ్గ వెంకటేశ్వర ఆలయంలో తొక్కిసలాట జరిగి పలువురు భక్తులు మృతి చెందడం తీవ్ర దిగ్భ్రాంతికి గురిచేసింది. ఏకాదశి రోజు తీవ్ర విషాదం నెలకొంది. మృతి చెందిన వారి కుటుంబాలకు నా ప్రగాఢ సంతాపం తెలియజేస్తున్నాను. తొక్కిసలాటలో గాయపడిన వారికి ప్రభుత్వం మెరుగైన వైద్య చికిత్స అందిస్తోంది.… — Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) November 1, 2025 Health Minister Satyakumar also expressed shock over the incident, and issued orders to the Government Hospital Superintendent and district officials to provide better medical treatment to the injured. Governor of Andhra Pradesh 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.” 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. — governorap (@governorap) November 1, 2025 ‘Regulate crowds across temples’: Pawan Kalyan Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also expressed grief over the incident. He wrote on X: “It is extremely tragic that 9 devotees lost their lives in a stampede that occurred due to thousands of devotees thronging for darshan of Lord Venkateswara at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Palasa-Kasibugga town, Srikakulam district, on the occasion of Ekadashi. The fact that a child was also among them has deeply shaken us.” “The government will take all possible measures to ensure that the injured in this incident receive the best treatment. I hope they recover quickly. Expressing profound condolences to the families of the deceased, I assure them that the government will extend all kinds of support to them. I request the administrative machinery to regulate the crowds of devotees at temples across the state during spiritually significant days and ensure that no such accidents occur,” Pawan Kalyan added. శ్రీకాకుళం జిల్లా, పలాస – కాశీబుగ్గ పట్టణం లోని శ్రీ వెంకటేశ్వర స్వామి వారి ఆలయంలో ఏకాదశి సందర్భంగా స్వామివారి దర్శనానికి వేలాదిగా భక్తులు పోటెత్తడంతో జరిగిన తొక్కిసలాటలో 9 మంది భక్తులు మరణించడం అత్యంత దురదృష్టకరం. వారిలో చిన్నారి కూడా ఉండటం తీవ్రంగా కలచివేసింది. ఈ ఘటనలో గాయపడిన… — Deputy CMO, Andhra Pradesh (@APDeputyCMO) November 1, 2025 Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing his condolences, announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia through PM NR Fund to the relatives of those who lost their lives, and ₹50,000 to the injured. ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్‌లోని శ్రీకాకుళంలోగల వెంకటేశ్వర స్వామి ఆలయంలో జరిగిన తొక్కిసలాట అత్యంత బాధాకరం. తమ సన్నిహితులను,కుటుంబసభ్యులను కోల్పోయిన వారికి ప్రగాఢ సంతాపం తెలియజేస్తున్నాను. గాయపడినవారు త్వరగా కోలుకోవాలని ప్రార్థిస్తున్నాను. ప్రాణాలు కోల్పోయిన వారి బంధువులకు పీఎం ఎన్ ఆర్ ఎఫ్… — PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 1, 2025 Tirupati stampede This temple stampede is second such incident in less than a year. Early this year, in January, six people, including five women, were killed and more than 25 others injured in a stampede at the token counter in Tirupati. The Tirupati stampede occurred at Tirupati Vishnu Nivasam when pilgrims rushed in for tokens for the Vaikunda Dwara Sarva Darshanam at the Sri Venkateshwara Temple. A scuffle between devotees at the token counter at the Bairagipatteda Ramanaidu School led to the stampede. The Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams (TTD) has opened more than 90 counters to issue tokens for the Vaikunda Ekadasi on 10 January. (This is a developing story, to be updated.) (Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Sumit Jha)
