A religious ceremony in India’s Andhra Pradesh state turned into a scene of tragedy after a massive stampede at a temple killed 9 people and left several others injured.
According to officials, the victims include 8 women and one boy. One of the injured individuals is reported to be in critical condition. The incident occurred at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasigobba, which was overflowing with worshippers attending a Hindu religious event.
The state’s Deputy Chief Minister, Pawan Kalyan, confirmed the 9 deaths and has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
Local administration and media reports suggest the stampede was caused by severe overcrowding and poor management. An estimated 25,000 people were present, far exceeding the temple’s capacity. Panic reportedly broke out when a railing collapsed onto a crowd of worshippers as they were trying to move to the temple’s first floor. Furthermore, the temple did not have separate entrances and exits.
Authorities noted that the temple is privately managed, not state-run, and the administration was not informed about the event. As a result, no safety measures were in place.
