Private Temple, Private Rules? Priest Defends Himself After Stampede Claims Lives

A 94-year-old priest in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district, Hari Mukunda Panda, has ignited outrage after a stampede at his newly built 'Chinna Tirupati' temple killed nine devotees on Ekadashi. The tragedy unfolded in Kasibugga when thousands surged into the unfinished replica of Tirumala's Venkateswara Swamy shrine, which Panda erected four months ago on his private land. Eight women and one child perished in the chaos, with dozens injured as panic erupted around 9 a.m. over depleting prasad. Panda, a lifelong Lord Venkateswara devotee, insisted he bore no duty to notify authorities about the event.

Defiant in his NDTV interview, Panda questioned the need for police involvement: "I built the temple on my private land. Why should I inform the cops or administration?" He dismissed Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's criticism that prior alerts could have enabled crowd control, retorting, "Book multiple cases—I have no issues." The priest claimed the temple typically drew modest crowds who took darshan, ate prasad he personally funded and cooked, then left quietly. Yesterday's sudden swell caught him off-guard, exhausting food stocks before more could be prepared.

Naidu slammed temple authorities for negligence, vowing strict action and highlighting the lack of coordination. He noted that advance notice would have prompted barricades, medical teams, and traffic management—standard for large gatherings. The single narrow entry-exit flanked by handrails became a death trap as devotees funneled in and out through the same cramped passage. With construction incomplete, no emergency exits or overflow areas existed, compounding the risk when the crowd ballooned unexpectedly on the auspicious Ekadashi day.

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The temple now stands locked and silent, its gates chained under police guard as investigations probe safety lapses. Devotees who once flocked for blessings now mourn outside, leaving flowers and prayers for the victims. Panda maintains the turnout was unprecedented, but locals whisper the shrine's growing fame via social media drew pilgrims from neighboring Odisha and beyond. Authorities are examining CCTV footage and witness accounts to reconstruct the fatal surge that turned faith into tragedy.

This incident exposes gaps in regulating private religious sites, especially during festivals. While Panda views his land as sovereign for worship, critics argue public safety trumps property rights when lives are at stake. As Andhra mourns, calls mount for mandatory event permits and crowd caps at all temples—big or small. The 'Mini Tirupati' dream has become a nightmare, leaving nine families shattered and one elderly priest unbowed.

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