Srikakulam: What began as a sacred day of devotion on Ekadashi turned into a horrifying tragedy at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga town, Srikakulam district, where at least 10 devotees, including two children, lost their lives in a massive stampede on Saturday morning.
The chaos unfolded around 11:30 a.m., when a surge of nearly 25,000 devotees gathered inside the temple premises — far beyond its capacity. Within minutes, what was meant to be a celebration of faith spiraled into panic, screams, and crushing mayhem.
Eyewitnesses describe scenes of utter confusion. “The crowd suddenly began to push from behind. People were falling, crying for help, but no one could move,” said a devotee who escaped with injuries. Several others remain critical, while hospitals in Srikakulam continue to treat dozens of injured pilgrims.
Investigations have revealed a series of shocking lapses that led to the disaster. Authorities confirmed that the temple management had not informed the district administration or police about the massive turnout expected for the festival. Adding to the chaos, the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple — also called ‘Chinna Tirupati’ (Little Tirupati) — is a private shrine, not registered under the Endowments Department, raising serious questions about oversight and safety protocols.
Officials also noted that the temple’s entry and exit points were the same, a dangerous design flaw that became deadly when a section of temporary metal railings collapsed, triggering panic among the devotees. “Once the railing fell, there was no control. People began running toward the gate, trampling others in the rush,” said a local police officer involved in rescue operations.
Disturbingly, parts of the temple complex were still under construction, and crowd control measures were woefully inadequate. “There were no proper barricades, no emergency exits, and no coordination between organizers and authorities,” an official investigating the case said.
The temple, which opened just four months ago, had been rapidly gaining popularity as a replica of the Tirumala Tirupati shrine. But on this day of devotion, a lack of preparedness and negligence turned faith into fury.
Authorities have launched a full-fledged inquiry to determine accountability. The state government has promised action against those responsible, while rescue operations continued late into the night to assist victims’ families.
