🕉️ Stampede at Venkateswara Swamy Temple: 9 Dead in Andhra Pradesh Tragedy
A tragic incident occurred on Saturday in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, where a stampede broke out during a religious ritual at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple.
The chaos led to the collapse of an iron grill, causing the death of nine devotees, including eight women and one child. At the time of the incident, thousands of worshippers had gathered inside the temple premises.
⚡ How the Tragedy Happened
The incident took place in the Kasibugga area, where a private individual had built a temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara Swamy on his land.
A special pooja (prayer ceremony) was organized on Saturday, attracting large crowds since morning. However, there was only one narrow entry and exit route for devotees.
As the crowd swelled, pushing and shoving began, and suddenly the iron grill gave way. The temple steps were about seven feet high, and several people fell straight to the ground. Panic spread instantly, leading to a stampede that crushed many devotees beneath the crowd.
🚔 Police Caught Off Guard
Srikakulam Superintendent of Police (SP) K.V. Maheshwar Reddy stated that the temple was built entirely on private land.
He said, “The temple organizers did not inform the police or administration about the event. If we had been informed earlier, we could have made proper security arrangements.”
By the time police received information, the incident had already occurred. The SP added, “We immediately dispatched forces, but it was too late. The situation is now under control.”
🙏 Thousands Were Present During the Disaster
According to officials, around 3,000 to 3,500 devotees were present at the temple during the pooja. Two people are said to be in critical condition, while others have been treated and discharged.
Local residents said that the annual pooja attracts huge crowds every year, but this time, poor crowd management led to a disaster no one had imagined.
What was meant to be a day of devotion and faith turned into a scene of chaos and grief.
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