At least 9 dead in stampede at Andhra’s Venkateswara Temple

At least nine devotees — including two children — were killed and several others injured in a stampede at the Venkateswara Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, on November 1 morning.

The deadly crush broke out amid heavy weekend crowds at the 12-acre temple complex, drawing devotees from across the region.

According to police, a railing along the devotees’ queue appears to have given way as people jostled for space, leading to a sudden surge and multiple casualties. Witnesses described scenes of panic as hundreds tried to escape the packed corridor.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu called the deaths “heartbreaking” and directed officials to ensure swift medical aid for the injured. “I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” he said, adding that local authorities and public representatives have been instructed to supervise relief efforts on-site.

The tragedy comes just days after a stampede in neighbouring Tamil Nadu killed 41 people at a political rally, raising renewed concerns over crowd safety and preparedness during mass gatherings.

This is the third such temple tragedy in Andhra Pradesh this year. On April 30, seven people died when a newly constructed wall collapsed at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Visakhapatnam during the Akshaya Tritiya festival. Earlier, on January 8, six devotees were killed in Tirupati after chaos erupted at a counter distributing tickets for special darshan of Lord Venkateswara.

As the state mourns yet another temple disaster, questions mount over recurring lapses in crowd management and the urgent need for stricter safety measures at high-footfall pilgrimage sites.