In a heart-wrenching tragedy that shook Andhra Pradesh, a stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam district claimed the lives of at least nine devotees — eight women and a 13-year-old boy — and left more than 30 others injured on Saturday morning. The devastating incident occurred at the privately managed temple in Kasibugga under Palasa mandal during the auspicious Karthika Ekadashi celebrations, drawing a crowd of over 20,000 devotees.

The mishap unfolded when a railing on a narrow staircase collapsed around 11:30 AM, triggering panic and chaos among the crowd. What began as a spiritual gathering turned into one of the deadliest temple stampedes in Andhra Pradesh in recent years.

President Murmu and PM Modi Lead Nation in Mourning

President Droupadi Murmu expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

“Shocked to learn about the loss of lives in a tragic incident at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for quick recovery of those injured,” the President wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief, calling the incident “painful.” In a message shared on X, he said,

“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.”

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced an ex gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh each to the next of kin of those who lost their lives and ₹50,000 to those injured, from the PM National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also conveyed his condolences, calling the loss of lives “deeply saddening.”

“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the stampede at the Kashibugga Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam. My condolences to the families of the devotees who lost their lives. Praying that the injured may recover at the earliest,” Shah posted on X.

What Went Wrong: Poor Crowd Control and Infrastructure Failures

Preliminary reports indicate that the temple authorities had not sought official permission for the large gathering nor alerted the police or district administration about the expected crowd. Officials revealed that the temple, which opened barely four months ago, was not registered with the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department, which oversees thousands of temples across the state.

District police chief KV Maheswara Reddy explained that the temple’s main sanctum was located on the first floor, accessible by around 20 steps, and the railing along the staircase collapsed under pressure, causing one person to fall and triggering mass panic.

“The packed crowd surged forward as the railing gave way,” Reddy said, adding that the lack of proper crowd management made the situation worse.

The Palasa Mandal Revenue Officer’s report to the state government confirmed that the entry and exit routes were the same, and the steel railings collapsed under the force of the crowd, leading to the fatal crush. Witnesses said the narrow stairway became completely choked as panic spread.

According to devotees present at the scene, the temple usually draws about 3,000 visitors on Saturdays, but the Karthika Ekadashi celebrations attracted nearly seven times that number.

“Everything looked fine around 9 AM, but suddenly the number of devotees surged. The narrow stairway was choked. I was nearby when the railing broke and people started falling over each other,” recalled R Ramanamma, a devotee.

Shocked to learn about the loss of lives in a tragic incident at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for quick recovery of those injured.— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 1, 2025

Temple Owner Calls It “An Act of God”

The Venkateswara Swamy Temple was built by 94-year-old Hari Mukund Panda, a philanthropist from Odisha, who modeled it after the famous Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati. The temple, spread across 12 acres, was inaugurated just four months ago.

Speaking to reporters after the tragedy, Panda described the incident as “an act of God.”

“Nobody is responsible — it was an act of God,” he said, claiming that no one could have predicted the crowd surge.

However, police have since booked Panda under culpable homicide charges under Section 100 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Four temple staff members have been detained for questioning, and officials have identified three primary issues behind the disaster:

• Overcrowding beyond capacity,

• Single entry and exit point, and

• Makeshift railings and incomplete structures in the under-construction temple area.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Palasa Town) told The Indian Express, “The temple is privately owned. Whenever its owners request us to do security arrangements, we post some police there, but today’s rush was extraordinary.”

Victims and the Aftermath

Among the deceased were E Chinnammi (46) and R Vijaya (48) from Tekkali; M Neelamma (60) from Vajrapukotturu; D Rajeswari (60), G Rupa (50), and B Brunda from Mandasa; Ch Yasodamma (56) from Nandigam; D Ammulamma from Kasibugga; and L Nikhil (13) from Sompeta. Two women — B Kalavathi and R Kumari — remain in critical condition.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed profound grief and ordered a full-fledged inquiry into the incident.

“Had the police been informed in advance, they could have implemented a crowd management plan. Those responsible will face action,” he said.
Naidu also instructed officials to ensure the injured received proper treatment and announced that steps would be taken to improve crowd safety protocols at temples statewide.

Local MLA Sireesha confirmed that the temple was managed by a private landlord and his family, who also financed its construction.

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…— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 1, 2025

Conflicting Claims Over Police Alert

The tragedy has also sparked a political blame game.

Former YSRCP minister and ex-Palasa MLA Seediri Appalaraju alleged that the temple management had indeed informed police about the anticipated heavy rush, but “not enough personnel were sent to manage the crowds.”

“Several youths, including YSRCP workers who volunteer at the temple every Saturday, noticed the heavy rush and called the police, but not enough officials were sent there. The state government should look into this,” he said.

In contrast, officials maintained that the temple management did not officially inform the authorities or seek permission for the event, leaving law enforcement unaware of the massive influx of devotees.

A Pattern of Negligence: Third Temple Tragedy in Andhra Pradesh This Year

Saturday’s incident marks the third major temple-related tragedy in Andhra Pradesh in 2024.

• On January 8, six people were killed in Tirupati during a stampede at a counter distributing special darshan tickets at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple.

• On April 30, seven devotees died and six were injured when a newly built rain-soaked wall collapsed at the Simhachalam temple in Visakhapatnam during the Akshaya Tritiya festival.

Following the January incident, Chief Minister Naidu had chaired meetings with the Endowments Department, which oversees temple safety, to implement crowd-control measures such as:

• Separate entry and exit routes,

• Better barricading and railings,

• Deployment of police during festivals,

• Avoiding overcrowding near footwear or prasad counters, and

• Staggered announcements for ticket and prasad distribution.

However, officials now admit that most of these measures were never implemented, especially at private temples like the one in Kasibugga, which fall outside the department’s jurisdiction.

“A majority of our temples are very old and narrow and were designed so that entry and exit are the same. Modifications to create new exit points often clash with traditional vaastu designs,” an official explained.

Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy has since announced that officials will inspect privately managed temples and issue safety and security recommendations to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the stampede at the Kashibugga Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. My condolences to the families of the devotees who lost their lives. Praying that the injured may recover at the earliest.— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 1, 2025

A Tragedy That Demands Accountability

The Kasibugga temple stampede stands as a grim reminder of the urgent need for crowd management systems, regulatory oversight, and coordination between temple administrations and local authorities during major religious festivals. What should have been a day of devotion and faith turned into a devastating morning of chaos and loss — one that left a deep scar on Andhra Pradesh’s collective consciousness.

As grieving families wait for answers, and the state government vows accountability, the tragedy at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple underscores one painful truth: in India’s temples, faith often draws millions — but safety still struggles to keep pace.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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