Kasibugga temple stampede: Probe ordered after deadly rush
Kasibugga temple stampede: Probe ordered after deadly rush
Stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga during Ekadashi darshan kills at least nine devotees as a railing collapses and panic erupts among thousands.
A stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, a newly inaugurated temple in the Srikakulam district, left at least nine devotees dead and several others injured as a railing collapsed, sending panicked crowds of up to 15,000 devotees for Ekadashi darshan.
Witnesses described a sudden surge at entry and exit points as people rushed to safety, while authorities said the privately managed temple was not registered with the state endowments department, a factor that complicates oversight.
A formal inquiry has been ordered. Union Minister Rammohan Naidu directed police personnel to inquire into the ghastly incident, and he cancelled his official programmes to return to Srikakulam to console the families of the deceased. Officials are examining crowd management, entry/exit controls, and safety protocols, with a focus on the railing failure that sparked the panic.
Videos circulating show bystanders and devotees conducting CPR on those who fainted, and deployed medical teams treating the injured. Authorities warned the death toll could rise as emergency workers continued rescue and evacuation operations and hospitalize the wounded.
The tragedy has reignited calls for stricter safety checks at major religious sites and greater transparency in approvals for privately managed temples, as investigators begin piecing together how a festival crowd of Ekadashi darshan turned deadly.
Cover image source: Kasibugga temple stampede: Union Minister Rammohan Naidu directs police personnel to inquire into ghastly incident 🔗
