Srikakulam stampede: Temple built for 3,000; 25,000 gathered, says minister
Expressing grief over the stampede, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced that a full-fledged inquiry would be conducted into the incident
At least nine people – eight women and a boy – were killed and many others injured in a stampede at Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district, in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday (November 1).
The stampede occurred around 11.30 am, said Kasibugga sub-division in-charge DSP Lakshman Rao.
Private temple
State Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said the temple, a private one and not under the Endowments Department, usually witnesses a turnout of 1,500 to 2,000 devotees every Saturday.
The tragedy was worsened by the Ekadasi observance coinciding with 'Karthika Masam', drawing large crowds.
At least seven of the dead are in the age group of 35-40.
According to the minister, the temple is located at an elevation on the first floor, and when the devotees were climbing, the railing broke, resulting in the people standing at a corner falling on one another.
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Srikakulam district superintendent of police (SP) KV Maheshwara Reddy said it is mandatory for temples (or religious institutions) to take permission from police when they are organising events, irrespective of the strength of the turnout.
“It is definitely mandatory under the Public Safety Act. They can ask for any number of people. It is not that only 200 or 2,000 people. Even if 200 people come, they can inform us and we will assess the situation, based on that we will provide the bandobust,” Reddy told PTI.
Incidentally, the police provided security to other temples in the North Andhra district on Saturday, but the SP said the owner of this particular temple, Mukunda Panda, failed to inform them.
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According to Reddy, Panda built the temple without the requisite permissions and opened it.
Rescue teams, police and hospital staff rushed to the spot. The injured were shifted to nearby government and private hospitals. The bodies of the deceased have been sent for postmortem.
'Overcrowding led to stampede': CMO
“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,” the Andhra Pradesh CMO stated in a post on X.
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“Police rushed to the spot. State Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu rushed to the accident site immediately. He spoke with the temple authorities to gather details about the incident. Additional police forces have been deployed to the spot,” it added.
CM Naidu orders inquiry
Expressing grief over the stampede, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced that a full-fledged inquiry would be conducted into the incident.
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Addressing a gathering in Sri Sathya Sai district, Naidu blamed the organisers for failing to inform the police in advance, which prevented adequate security measures from being made. "An individual constructed Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga. Lot of devotees went there to have darshan on the occasion of auspicious Kartika masam (month). He did not inform the police. Had he had infrared, police protection would have been provided and controlled the crowd."
Describing the incident as "painful" and "condemnable", the Chief Minister said, "... Innocent people lost their lives. We will take this incident seriously. Whoever is responsible, they will be taken into custody and a full-pledged inquiry will be conducted." He said the tragedy occurred due to lack of orderliness and discipline.
Also Read: Srikakulam temple stampede: What triggered the tragedy?
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Live Updates
- 1 Nov 2025 3:04 PM IST
Venkateswara Swamy temple built on 12 acres, inaugurated 4 years ago
The Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh was built less than four years ago at Kasibugga Padanapuram.
The temple was inaugurated by the trustee Harimukund Panda. The temple was built on his own land of 12 acres. The temple is spread over five acres. It was built at a cost of about Rs. 20 crores. It is known that the temple was built here because he could not have darshan during his visit to Tirumala
- 1 Nov 2025 2:58 PM IST
Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan assures aid for AP temple stampede victims
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan stated that the government would take every possible step to provide the best medical care for those injured in a stampede at a temple in the state.
“It is extremely tragic that 9 devotees lost their lives in a stampede that occurred due to thousands of devotees thronging for darshan of Lord Venkateswara at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Palasa-Kasibugga town, Srikakulam district, on the occasion of Ekadashi. The fact that a child was also among them has deeply shaken us,” Kalyan said in a post on X.
“Expressing profound condolences to the families of the deceased, I assure them that the government will extend all kinds of support to them,” he added. The deputy chief minister also urged the administration to manage temple crowds on spiritually significant days to prevent such tragedies in the future.
- 1 Nov 2025 2:54 PM IST
Amit Shah saddened by Srikakulam temple stampede deaths
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday expressed sorrow over the deaths caused by the stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam.
“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,” Shah said in a post on X.
- 1 Nov 2025 2:52 PM IST
PM Modi expresses grief over AP temple stampede, announces Rs2 lakh aid
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he was deeply saddened by the stampede in Srikakulam and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives. The Prime Minister’s Office also declared Rs 50,000 compensation for the injured.
“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 PMO said in a post on X.
- 1 Nov 2025 2:50 PM IST
AP temple stampede: Jagan blames Naidu govt
Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed deep sorrow over the stampede at the Kasibugga temple in Srikakulam district, calling it heartbreaking that devotees lost their lives. He urged the government to extend immediate help to the affected families and ensure the injured receive proper medical care.
Recalling previous tragedies, he said that similar incidents during Vaikuntha Ekadasi in Tirupati and at the Simhachalam temple had claimed lives, yet the government “failed to take proper precautions and has acted with utter negligence.” Reddy stated, “This repeated loss of innocent lives reflects the inefficiency of Chandrababu Naidu's administration,” demanding serious corrective steps to prevent future mishaps.
- 1 Nov 2025 2:41 PM IST
TDP blames private temple management for Andhra temple stampede
Commenting on the stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Andhra Pradesh, TDP National Spokesperson Prem Kumar Jain described it as “a deeply tragic event.” He stated that the incident, which led to the deaths of devotees, occurred “due to the excessive crowds on the Ekadashi.” According to him, “this was a private temple,” and its management “did not inform the government or the police of any potential gathering.” Jain added that “the area where this massive crowd gathered was under construction.”
He further mentioned that “the injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital and are receiving full care,” noting that “the police took immediate action and brought the situation under control, and the situation is normal.”
