Andhra Pradesh was shaken on Saturday after a devastating stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga town, Srikakulam district, left nine devotees dead and several others injured. The incident occurred during Ekadashi when thousands gathered to offer prayers, overwhelming the temple’s limited entry and exit points. Among the deceased was a child, a detail that moved both the public and government officials deeply.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed profound grief over the tragedy and assured that the state government would provide all necessary assistance to the families of those who lost their lives. In a statement, he said the administration would ensure the best possible medical care for the injured and take strict measures to prevent such incidents in the future. "The fact that a child was also among them has deeply shaken us. The government will do everything in its power to support the affected families and ensure swift recovery of the injured," he said in a post on X.

Pawan Kalyan directed the district and temple authorities to immediately implement strict crowd management protocols across all major temples in Andhra Pradesh, especially during auspicious days that witness heavy footfall. He called on administrative officials to coordinate with local law enforcement, endowment departments, and medical teams to ensure safety and preparedness at large religious gatherings.

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Governor S. Abdul Nazeer also expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as a heartbreaking loss of innocent lives. He directed the district administration to provide all possible medical assistance on-site and oversee the smooth functioning of relief operations. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu extended condolences to the bereaved families and asked local officials and legislators to visit the temple and ensure effective relief and rehabilitation measures.

Preliminary reports suggest that the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, which operates privately and is not registered under the state endowments department, lacked adequate safety arrangements and crowd-control measures. Authorities revealed that the temple had only one entry and exit point, creating a dangerous bottleneck during the rush. Officials have launched an investigation to determine whether the organizers failed to obtain the required permissions and to identify lapses in planning that led to the tragic incident.

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