Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh – A devastating stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district, has led to the death of at least 10 devotees and left scores injured. The tragedy unfolded on Saturday morning as a massive crowd gathered to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion of Ekadashi.
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Key Details
| Detail | Information |
| Incident Type | Stampede/Crowd Crush |
| Location | Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, Kasibugga, Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh |
| Date & Time | Saturday morning, November 1, 2025 (Time approximate, around 11:30 am IST) |
| Casualties | 10 devotees confirmed dead (Initial reports suggest a majority were women and children). |
| Injured | Scores of people injured, shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. |
| Cause | Severe overcrowding due to an unexpected rush of devotees for Ekadashi celebrations, coupled with reports of a railing collapse and poor crowd management. |
Overcrowding Triggered Chaos
The stampede was primarily triggered by severe overcrowding. According to initial reports, an estimated 25,000 devotees had thronged the temple, which reportedly has a much smaller capacity. The sudden and heavy rush for darshan (viewing of the deity) quickly spiraled out of control.
Eyewitness accounts and preliminary police investigations suggest that chaos erupted when a large number of people pushed forward, leading to a sudden surge. Some reports indicate a railing designed to regulate the queue gave way under the pressure, causing people to fall on one another and resulting in the deadly crush. The use of a single or narrow entry/exit point is also being cited as a contributing factor to the bottleneck.
The injured were immediately rushed to local hospitals, including the Palasa Government Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as several victims are in critical condition.
Official Response and Inquiry
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, expressed his shock and profound grief over the tragedy.
“The stampede incident at the Venkateswara Temple in Kashibugga in Srikakulam district has caused a shock. The death of devotees in this tragic incident is extremely heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the dece1ased,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.
- Relief Measures: CM Naidu has instructed officials to ensure speedy and proper medical treatment for the injured and requested local officials and public representatives, including State Minister K. Atchannaidu and Minister Nara Lokesh, to visit the site and oversee relief operations.
- Compensation: The government is expected to announce compensation for the families of the deceased and the injured.
- Inquiry Ordered: An immediate inquiry has been ordered by the local administration to investigate the cause of the stampede, particularly focusing on lapses in crowd management and whether necessary official permissions were obtained for the large gathering, as the temple is reportedly a private shrine not registered under the Endowments Department.
- PM Expresses Grief: Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his pain over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh (or the equivalent amount) from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 (or the equivalent amount) for the injured.
Additional police forces have been deployed to the temple premises to manage the crowd and maintain order as the rescue and relief efforts continue. The entire region remains gripped by sorrow following the tragic incident on one of the most sacred days in the Hindu calendar.
