Srikakulam: A tragic stampede at the Kasibugga Venkateswara Temple in Srikakulam district claimed nine lives and left several devotees injured on Saturday. The incident occurred during Karthika Ekadashi celebrations when a railing reportedly collapsed amid a massive rush of worshippers. Officials fear the death toll may rise further as some of the injured are in critical condition.
According to preliminary information, the temple authorities allegedly failed to take adequate crowd control measures despite anticipating an unusually large turnout. The injured were immediately shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. Eyewitnesses stated that the situation turned chaotic when the gates were opened for devotees, leading to the collapse of the railing and triggering the stampede.
The Kasibugga Venkateswara Temple was built last year by a devotee named Panda at a cost of ₹10 crore on a 12-acre site. Designed to accommodate around 2,000 to 3,000 devotees, the temple witnessed a turnout of over 25,000 people on the auspicious occasion. What was expected to be a day of devotion and celebration turned into one of mourning, as the chants of “Govinda” gave way to cries of grief and panic.