Andhra Pradesh Stampede: A major accident occurred on Ekadashi in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. A stampede caused by the massive crowd at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in the Kashibugga area on Friday killed nine devotees and injured several others. The accident occurred as thousands of people had gathered at the temple since morning for darshan. As the crowd grew, people began getting stuck in the narrow passages within the temple complex, leading to chaos.
Read Here: iQOO 15 Will Launch in India on This Date: Know the Price, Features and Specifications
Learn about the cause of the stampede
According to media reports, a large number of devotees had arrived at the temple on the occasion of Ekadashi. The crowd was so huge that people had no room to breathe. People started colliding with each other on the narrow passage, causing many to fall. This led to a stampede. Within moments, the situation spiraled out of control, and many were injured.
Administration mobilized for relief and rescue
Upon receiving information about the incident, local police and administrative officials immediately arrived at the scene. Relief and rescue operations have been initiated, and the injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals. Police have deployed additional forces to control the crowd. The temple complex has also been temporarily closed to prevent any further accidents.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu Expresses Grief
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the tragedy. He said, “The accident at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kashibugga is extremely tragic and unbearable. My condolences are with the families who lost their loved ones.” The Chief Minister has directed officials to provide immediate and the best medical care to all the injured. He has personally supervised the relief and rescue operations.
Questions Raised About the Arrangements
This accident once again raises serious questions about crowd control and security management at religious sites. Every year, millions of devotees visit the temple during Ekadashi and other festivals. Despite this, such accidents occur repeatedly due to the lack of adequate security arrangements. The administration has assured that security measures will be further tightened within the temple complex to prevent such incidents in the future.