On Saturday at least nine of these devotees died in a stampede that occurred in the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga within the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. This is what happened when so many of the devotees had flocked the temple to give prayers during Ekadashi, and the overcrowding and the chaos ensued. Some others were also said to have been hurt in the fracas and have been taken to the nearest hospitals to get treatment.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu posted a heart-felt message concerning the incident terming it as heart-breaking and very distressing. Naidu wrote in a post on X (then Twitter), It is very shocking that there has been a stampede at the Venkateswara Temple in Kasibugga in Srikakulam district. The death of followers in this tragic event is very depressing. I am deeply saddened to offer my sincere condolences to the grieved families.
The Chief Minister has instructed the district officials to conduct an emergency relief and rescue mission and make sure that the injured are provided with proper and prompt medical care. He also gave senior officials and representatives of the people to visit the location immediately to oversee rescue operations and provide support to those who are affected.
The stampede was preliminarily reported to have occurred when the devotees overwhelmed to get into the temple facilities during the special Ekadashi rituals. Law enforcers have not yet established the actual cause but eyewitnesses said that overcrowding at the entrance caused panic which translated into the fatality.
Police and rescue forces in the area were also soon deployed to contain the situation and bring sanity. An investigation has been commissioned to establish the violations that caused the accident.
The Andhra government has given an assurance that the families of the victims as well as the injured will be given all the support they need. The temple town that had been anticipating the celebrations of the auspicious day has been shrouded with the dark segment of grief following the tragic event.
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