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Venkateswara Swamy Temple Stampede: Video emerging from Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam captures chilling details of the stampede as it shows devotees gasping for air and struggling to escape the narrow passage flanked by handrails.

The heart-wrenching video shows moments during the stampede, which claimed at least 9 lives. The stampede occurred due to overcrowding after devotees gathered at the temple on the occasion of Ekadashi, considered a sacred day by Hindus.

 Shocking videos from the scene capture women shoving one another and desperately clambering over railings to flee the deadly stampede, their cries for help echoing amid the chaos as a few men reach out to pull them to safety.

The Heart-wrenching footage also shows relatives frantically performing CPR on collapsed victims and rubbing their palms in a desperate bid to revive them. According to visuals from the temple premises, the majority of those who lost their lives are women.

PM Modi Announces Ex Gratia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing sorrow over the unfortunate incident, has announced ex gratia for the next of kin of those who lost their lives and those who have sustained injuries.

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PM, on X, wrote, "My thoughts are with those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover soon. An ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000."

The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, paid his condolences and directed authorities to provide proper treatment to those injured. 

"The stampede incident at the Venkateswara Temple in Kashibugga in Srikakulam district has caused a shock. The death of devotees in this tragic incident is extremely heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. I have instructed the officials to provide speedy and proper treatment to those who have been injured. I have requested the local officials and public representatives to visit the site of the incident and oversee the relief measures," Naidu stated in his post on X.

How Stampede At Venkateswara Temple Occurred 

Providing details of the fatal incident, which killed at least 9, Kasibugga sub-division in-charge DSP Lakshman Rao said, "The stampede occurred at Venkateswara temple in Kasibugga at around 11.30 am, and Seven persons died and two others were injured." 

As per the statement released by the Chief Minister's office, the sudden overcrowding at the occasion of Ekadashi led to stampede. 

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