Chaos Erupts During Ekadashi Crowds at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple
At least nine people were killed and several others injured in a stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district early Saturday, according to state officials. The tragedy occurred as tens of thousands of worshippers thronged the temple premises to mark Ekadashi, a day of special religious significance for Hindus.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan confirmed that the incident took place during the morning rush when devotees attempted to enter the temple simultaneously for early prayers. The massive influx of worshippers overwhelmed crowd control efforts, causing panic and chaos.
Authorities said that approximately 25,000 devotees had gathered at the temple complex, which has a capacity of only around 2,000 people at a time. “The crowd swelled beyond control, and despite police presence, the situation quickly turned into a crush,” said state minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, adding that local hospitals were instructed to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.
Government Announces Compensation for Victims’ Families
Rescue teams and police swiftly cordoned off the area and transported the injured to nearby hospitals. Video footage circulating on local news channels showed frantic scenes as people tried to help victims while ambulances arrived at the site.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and announced compensation of 200,000 rupees (around $2,300) for each deceased victim and 50,000 rupees ($570) for the injured. “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the Srikakulam temple tragedy. My thoughts are with the bereaved families,” Modi wrote on social media platform X.
Authorities have launched an inquiry into the incident to determine lapses in crowd management and emergency response. Officials said additional security and crowd control measures will be implemented at major temples across the state during future religious festivals.
