A tragic incident struck Andhra Pradesh on Saturday when a massive stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam district left at least nine devotees dead and several others critically injured. The chaos unfolded during a special religious ceremony as thousands of devotees rushed to enter the temple premises.
Eyewitnesses said that from early morning, huge crowds had gathered around the temple complex to participate in special prayers. As the main gate opened, the rush intensified, and within minutes, the situation spiraled out of control.
According to police reports, a section of devotees stumbled near the entrance, leading to a deadly stampede. Six people died on the spot, while three others succumbed to their injuries later at the hospital. Several others are being treated at nearby medical facilities, some in critical condition.
Officials admitted that there was a major lapse in crowd management. There were inadequate barricades and limited security personnel to control the surge of devotees. A senior police officer said, “The crowd grew unexpectedly large, and within moments, the situation became unmanageable.”
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives in the incident. Chief Minister has ordered an immediate high-level inquiry into the incident and announced ex-gratia compensation for the victims’ families. Expressing grief, he said, “This tragic loss of life has deeply saddened us. The administration has been directed to ensure proper medical care for the injured and support for the affected families.”
Temple authorities revealed that they had expected around 50,000 devotees, but the number reportedly exceeded one lakh, causing severe congestion at the entry gates. In the aftermath of the tragedy, temple operations have been temporarily suspended, and a large police force has been deployed to restore order.
Local residents alleged that every year during such religious festivals, poor crowd control measures lead to near-stampede situations, but no strong preventive action is ever taken. “If proper arrangements were made, this tragedy could have been avoided,” said a local devotee.
The state of mourning has gripped Srikakulam and nearby regions, with social media flooded with condolences. Emergency camps have been set up near the temple to provide medical aid and psychological support to affected families.
The incident has sparked nationwide outrage over recurring temple stampede tragedies in India. Experts have urged the government to implement stricter safety norms at religious sites. “Such incidents are preventable,” said a disaster management expert, “but only if there’s better coordination between the police, volunteers, and temple authorities.”
