Andhra Temple Stampede Caught on Cam: Video Shows Screams, Panic, Chaos as Several Crushed
Ten people died in a stampede during Ekadashi celebrations at Venkateswara Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district after overcrowding and panic broke out among devotees early Saturday morning., India News, Times Now
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Ten people died in a stampede during Ekadashi celebrations at Venkateswara Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district after overcrowding and panic broke out among devotees early Saturday morning.
Andhra Stampede News: In a disturbing incident, 10 people died after a stampede occurred at the Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday, November 1. The incident occurred during Ekadashi celebrations when thousands of devotees were visiting the temple to offer prayers early in the morning.
Several videos of the incident have surfaced online, showing severe overcrowding and no space for movement within the temple premises. The situation quickly escalated, turning into a tragic stampede that claimed 10 lives. The incident trigerred reportedly after a railing inside the premise broke, and the crowd went out of control. The situation escalated quickly as many people were trapped and injured.
Authorities said the crowd began to swell early in the morning, and soon the premises became choked with devotees. The sudden surge near the sanctum led to panic and chaos, resulting in a stampede-like situation. Eyewitnesses described moments of horror and confusion as panic spread and people struggled to move to safety amid the crush of the crowd during the morning rituatl.
Police personnel rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control, while the injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
What Led to The Incident?
According to Andhra Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, the temple is located at an elevation on the first floor, and when the devotees were climbing, the railing broke off, resulting in the people standing at a corner falling off and others dropping on them.
Observing that Kasibugga Venkateswara temple is a private one and not under the Endowments Department, Anitha said it is common to see 1,500 to 2,000 devotees turn up here every Saturday.
Further, she noted that the auspicious occasion of Ekadasi coinciding with 'Karthika Masam' on a Saturday aggravated the tragedy as multitudes thronged the temple.
Temple Wasn't Fully Constructed, Railings Collapsed
Sources in the government told Times Now that the temple was opened only four months, and the construction is still not fully completed. Since the entry and exit routes were the same, and the steel railings that were set up collapsed, people rushed in all at once, leading to a stampede.
Andhra CMO Reacts
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Andhra Pradesh CMO said, “A stampede took place at the Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district, leaving several people injured. The incident occurred as a large crowd gathered at the temple on the occasion of Ekadashi. The heavy rush of devotees led to overcrowding, resulting in a sudden stampede. The injured were immediately shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. Police rushed to the spot.”
(Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has expressed shock over the stampede incident that took place at the Kasibugga Venkateswara Temple in Srikakulam district. He said that it is extremely sad that devotees who had come to have darshan of the deity died in this manner. He expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. He ordered the authorities to provide better treatment to the injured.)
Meanwhile, rescue operations are underway to ensure public safety.
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