Srikakulam: Negligence blamed as stampede at Kasibugga temple claims nine lives
Officials investigating the scene said the temple is located on the first floor, requiring devotees to climb around 20 steps for darshan
By - Sri Lakshmi Muttevi
Srikakulam: In a tragic incident on Saturday morning, nine devotees lost their lives in a stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district.
The mishap occurred around 11:45 a.m. when the railing separating the entry and exit routes of the temple collapsed, triggering chaos among the devotees gathered for Ekadashi darshan.
Srikakulam District Collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar stated that the temple, constructed recently, is privately managed and not registered under the Endowments Department. He described the incident as “complete negligence” on the part of the temple authorities, noting that they had failed to alert the police or make necessary security arrangements despite the large turnout. “The crowd exceeded the temple’s capacity. Going forward, we will ensure that all temples have CCTV surveillance for better crowd management,” the Collector added.
Officials investigating the scene said the temple is located on the first floor, requiring devotees to climb around 20 steps for darshan. The railing that gave way was reportedly in poor condition and not properly constructed, contributing to the tragedy.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, calling the incident a result of poor planning and lack of communication. “The incident occurred during the Karthika month Ekadashi celebrations, where a huge crowd gathered without prior intimation or arrangements. Unfortunately, the organizers did not inform the police or local authorities. Had they done so, adequate security and crowd control could have been ensured. Because of this negligence, nine people lost their lives and five were injured. A full-fledged inquiry will be conducted, and strict action will be taken against those responsible,” he said.
Temple administrator Harimukund Panda admitted that he had not anticipated such a large crowd. “Usually, around two thousand devotees visit the temple. I only planned to distribute prasad and send them off. I never expected this many people, so I did not inform the police,” he said.
The District Collector and Superintendent of Police met with Panda at the temple and later visited the hospitals where the injured are being treated. Police have now taken control of the temple premises. Of the injured devotees, 11 are reported to be in stable condition and are receiving treatment at Palasa and RIMS hospitals.
Minister Lokesh in Kasibugga
Minister Lokesh will inspect the area where the stampede took place. He will visit the family members of the deceased and the injured.
He will review with officials and public representatives the assistance being provided to the victims and the steps to be taken to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
