Srikakulam stampede: Temple built for 3,000; 25,000 gathered, says minister

Three major temple stampedes in Andhra Pradesh have claimed over 40 lives since 2014

Andhra Pradesh has witnessed a series of tragic stampedes at major temple sites over the past decade, exposing recurring lapses in crowd management and safety protocols. Between 2014 and 2025, three major incidents have together claimed more than 40 lives and left dozens injured.

July 14, 2015 – Rajahmundry (Godavari Pushkaralu):

A stampede at the Godavari River bank during the Pushkara Snanam led to the death of 27 devotees and left 20 others injured.

January 8, 2025 – Tirumala (Vaikuntha Ekadashi):

A rush at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple ticket counter turned fatal when the gates were opened for devotees, resulting in six deaths and over 35 injuries.

November 1, 2025 – Kasibugga (Srikakulam district):

During Kartika Mas Ekadashi celebrations at the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple, railings gave way under pressure from a massive crowd, causing nine deaths and injuring several others.

These repeated tragedies underline the urgent need for stronger crowd-control mechanisms and safety oversight at Andhra Pradesh’s major pilgrimage centres.

(The story was first published in The Federal Andhra Pradesh)

Here is the list of the deceased in the Kasibugga temple stampede

During the stampede on Saturday at the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple, Kasibugga (known as “small Tirupati”), nine devotees lost their lives and several others were injured.

According to the list released by the government, the deceased are:

Eduri Chinamm – from Rameswaram village, Tek­kali mandal

Rapaka Vijaya (48) – from Pittalasaria village, Tekkali mandal

Muripini Neelamma (60) – from Dukkavannipeta village, Vajrapukotturu mandal

Duvvu Rajeshwari (60) – from Belupatia village, Manda­s mandal

Chinni Yasodamma (56) – from Sivarampuram village, Nandigam mandal

Roopa – from Guddibhara village, Manda­s mandal

Lota Nikhil (13) – from Benkili village, Sompeta mandal

Dokkara Ammulamma – from Palasa-Kasibugga municipality

Bora Brunda – from Boya Street, Manda­s mandal

Fifteen injured persons were shifted to the Palasa Community Health Centre, of whom three are in serious condition and ten are stable.

AP Minister clarifies Srikakulam stampede temple is privately owned

Andhra Pradesh Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy clarified that the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam, where the stampede occurred, is privately owned and not administered by the government.

“The Kasibugga Venkateswara Temple in Srikakulam district, where the stampede occurred, is not under government management,” he said, noting that it does not fall under the Endowments Department. The minister explained that the temple was built on 12 acres of land belonging to a person named Harimukundapanda and was constructed using his own funds, reported the Hindustan Times.

CM Naidu calls AP temple stampede 'heartbreaking', blames private persons

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the Kasibugga incident in Srikakulam district, calling it “extremely heartbreaking.” Speaking about the tragedy, the Chief Minister said, “Through advance planning during such a massive cyclone, we were able to prevent greater loss of life. But upon closer inspection, this massive loss of life occurred due to the irresponsible actions of private individuals.”

At an event in Peddannavariapalle, Sri Sathya Sai district, Naidu personally distributed pensions to beneficiaries as part of welfare services. Later, during the Praja Vedika meeting, he observed two minutes of silence in memory of those who died in the incident.

The Chief Minister noted, “If the police had been informed in advance, there would have been an opportunity to control the devotees in queues.” He further stated that “strict action will be taken against those responsible for the incident,” according to the CMO of Andhra Pradesh.

‘Not a stampede, but a panic-induced fall’: Srikakulam SP

Srikakulam Superintendent of Police K.V. Maheswara Reddy said the tragedy was not a stampede in the strict sense. “It is not a stampede per se,” he clarified. According to him, nine devotees died and two others suffered severe injuries after falling from a wall connected to the railing. “The devotees attempted to escape from the queue in panic after the iron railing was damaged,” he explained.

“The health condition of the two survivors is critical,” Mr. Maheswara Reddy added, speaking to The Hindu.

AP temple built for 3,000 held 25,000 devotees: Minister

Andhra Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy stated that the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga was built to hold only 3,000 people. However, nearly 25,000 devotees gathered there on Saturday for Ekadashi, which resulted in a crowd surge, reported the Hindustan Times.

AP temple stampede toll is 9; DSP blames 'owner’s mistake'

Conflicting reports emerged about the death toll and cause of the incident at the Venkateswara Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. While officials confirmed nine deaths—eight women and a boy—District Collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar had earlier stated the toll was ten. The tragedy occurred around 11:30 a.m., said Kasibugga sub-division in-charge DSP Lakshman Rao.

Srikakulam Superintendent of Police KV Maheswara Reddy told PTI, “Nine (deaths). Nine only... One child is there, a 12-year-old child; the remaining (victims) are all female. And it is a private temple. It is not a government temple. It was constructed recently.”

Reddy explained that the incident was caused by “the collapse of an iron grill near the steps,” which triggered panic among devotees who fell from a height of about six feet. “It is purely an accident and due to the owner’s mistake. They haven’t applied for police bandobust,” he added.

President Murmu, VP saddened by AP temple stampede

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday expressed grief over the deaths in a stampede at a temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.

According to officials, at least 10 people, most of them women, were killed and several others injured when the stampede occurred around 11:30 a.m. at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple.

“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 the quick recovery of those injured,” the President said in a post on X.

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan also expressed sorrow, posting on X, “Deeply pained by the tragic stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple at Kashibugga in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. The loss of lives in this unfortunate incident is extremely distressing. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.”

Temple entrance route crush, collapsed railing triggered stampede

According to an official release, the stampede took place when a large crowd reportedly surged forward when the temple opened, causing panic and a crush in the entrance route. A railing collapsed under the crowd pressure, which triggered the panic. The same route was being used for both entry and exit.

Among the injured, 15 were shifted to CHC, Palasa; of these, two succumbed to injuries. While three people are in critical condition, 10 are reported to be stable.

Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan directs strict crowd control in AP temples

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Saturday directed officials to enforce strict crowd management measures at temples across the state after the stampede in Srikakulam district, according to ANI.

Kalyan said the instructions were intended to prevent similar incidents, especially on spiritually important days that draw large numbers of devotees.

He told officials to “ensure that proper crowd regulation measures are put in place in temples across the state” to avoid any future tragedies like the one in Srikakulam.