At Least 10 Dead in Stampede at Private Temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam

By A Staff Reporter

Srikakulam: At least ten people lost their lives and many others sustained injuries in a stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh earlier today. The tragic incident occurred as a large number of devotees gathered at the temple to offer prayers on the occasion of Ekadasi, an auspicious day in the Hindu calendar.

According to Prasad Kumar Patnaik, Endowment Commissioner, the temple in Kasibugga was constructed by Shri Hari Mukunda Panda and is currently under private management. “It has come to my notice that a temple named Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, in Kasibugga, was constructed by Shri Hari Mukunda Panda and is presently under private management. This temple does not fall under the purview of the Endowments Department,” Patnaik said.

He added that the temple had been open to devotees for the past four months following its completion. “Today, being an auspicious day—Ekadasi, a large number of devotees, as is customary, visited the temple. However, due to a lack of proper arrangements by the temple management, the situation became difficult to manage,” he noted.