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Andhra Temple Stampede: Venkateswara Swamy temple witnessed a deadly stampede in which at least nine people--eight women and a boy--were killed, and many others were injured on Saturday, triggering a huge outrage over the safety of devotees in Andhra Pradesh. The tragic incident occurred at Venkateswara Swamy temple in Srikakulam district, which is a private temple. According to police, the panda (periest) built the temple without the requisite permissions from the authorities.

Who Is The Temple Owner?

The owner of the private temple is Mukunda Panda. The 95-year-old priest, who built the temple, told the reporters that he did not expect so many people to turn up at the temple, as he had never witnessed huge crowds before.

What Triggered The Deadly Stampede

Soon after the incident, Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha spoke on what has triggered the stampede at the temple. He said the temple, a private one and not under the Endowments Department, usually witnesses a turnout of 1,500 to 2,000 devotees here every Saturday. The tragedy was worsened by the Ekadasi observance coinciding with 'Karthika Masam', drawing large crowds. The police official also said that the incident was a result of a railing collapse near the steps, which led to panic.

According to the minister, the temple is located at an elevation on the first floor, and when the devotees were climbing, the railing broke, resulting in the people standing at a corner falling on one another.

Here Are Key Highlights Of The Fatal Incident

1. A local MLA, and TDP leader Gouthu Sireesha, said, " Nobody expected this because the temple opened four months ago. Even the people of Palasa did not know about the temple. It was a mouth-to-mouth publicity. Today, because of the Ekadashi, an unexpected crowd came." She said, there are twenty stairs, and the exit and entrance gates are side by side, adding people were in huge numbers, and the barricade fell down.

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2. One of the survivors from Dharmapuram village near Ichchapuram said the approach to the temple is narrow, with only a single entry and exit point, which led to a buildup of devotees on both sides and resulted in chaos.

3. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the incident, saying a full-fledged inquiry will be conducted into the incident. Addressing a gathering in Sri Sathya Sai district, Naidu blamed the organisers for not informing the police in advance, due to which adequate security measures could not be arranged.

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4. Srikakulam district superintendent of police (SP) KV Maheshwara Reddy said it is mandatory for temples (or religious institutions) to take permission from police when they are organising events, irrespective of the strength of the turnout. It is definitely mandatory under the Public Safety Act, he added.

5. The police said cases are being registered under culpable homicide charges. Reddy said nine people died in the mishap."Nine (deaths). Nine only, (Condition of) one person is a bit serious. He is not dead. One child is there, a 12-year-old child; the remaining (victims) are all female.

6. "It is purely an accident and due to the owner's negligence. They haven't applied for police bandobust, there were no permissions also," he added.

7. President Droupadi Murmu condoled the loss of lives, saying "Shocked to learn about the loss of lives in a tragic incident at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for quick recovery of those injured."

8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF to the next of kin of those who lost their lives and Rs 2,000 to the injured. "Pained by the stampede in Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover soon," he said in a post on X.

9. YSRCP leader and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, slammed the Naidu government, accusing it of negligence and failing to take proper precautions despite similar tragedies in the past.

. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday expressed sadness over the loss of lives in the stampede and urged the state government to mobilise resources to provide relief to the victims and their families.

 (With PTI inputs)

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