What triggered the stampede at Andhra’s Venkateswara Swamy Temple: Heavy rush or management failure?

A huge crowd of devotees had gathered at Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday morning. A sudden stampede created panic in the premises, leaving several fatally injured and 9 dead.

The stampede occurred as a large crowd gathered at the temple on the occasion of Ekadashi. The Andhra Chief Minister’s office said in a statement that overcrowding and the rush among devotees caused the tragic accident.

Governor of Andhra Pradesh S Abdul Nazeer expressed anguish and profound grief on the death of nine pilgrims in the stampede that took place in Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Kasibugga in Srikakulam district, due to the heavy rush of pilgrims. https://t.co/SSHk4CGOnO pic.twitter.com/QlVxNqK8Ti

— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2025

Andhra Pradesh CMO: “A stampede took place at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district, leaving several people injured. The incident occurred as a large crowd gathered at the temple on the occasion of Ekadashi. The heavy rush of devotees led to overcrowding, resulting in a sudden stampede.”

#WATCH | Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh: 9 people lost their lives, several were injured after a stampede occurred at Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam

The incident occurred as a large crowd gathered at the temple on the occasion of Ekadashi. The heavy rush of devotees led to… pic.twitter.com/KdJXhVh7fv

— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2025

The injured were immediately shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. Police, as well as State Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu, rushed to the accident site immediately. He spoke with the temple authorities to gather details about the incident.

As per a TOI report, the temple where the incident occurred is privately managed and is not registered under the state endowments department. The organisers of the event did not seek any official approval s and the state government had not been informed about the massive gathering that would amass at the temple. 

The areas where pilgrims assembled have spaces that are still under construction at the time of the stampede.  The temple had a single entry exit point that further added to the jeopardy of the pilgrims and led to chairs and led to chaos and overcrowding.

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