• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Venkateswara Temple Stampede: Police have arrested an individual in connection with the Stampede at Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Kasibugga district. The Andhra Pradesh Police have arrested the accused for culpable homicide, stating that the railing collapse led to the fatal stampede that claimed at least 9 lives. 

According to police, they are not calling the crowd crush a stampede but an accident, CNN-News18 reported. The police have booked a private individual, Mukunda Panda, and the temple management in relevant sections of Bharatiya Nayay Sanhita (BNS Act). The police have cited negligence in the handling of the event.

ALSO READ: Single Entry-Exit, Ongoing Construction, Overcrowding: What Led To Andhra Temple Stampede Killing 10

“It was not a stampede but an accident. A six-foot railing gave way, and that led to the tragic situation," Srikakulam Superintendent of Police KV Maheswara Reddy was quoted as saying in the report.

As per the Kasibugga sub-division in-charge DSP Lakshman Rao, the incident stampede occurred at Venkateswara temple in Kasibugga at around 11.30 am.

Providing details on the matter,  the Chief Minister's office said that the sudden overcrowding on the occasion of Ekadashi led to a stampede. 

Videos Show Chilling Details As Devotees Scream For Help

The videos, emerging from the incident, capture chilling details of what happened during the stampede as they show devotees gasping for air and struggling to escape the narrow passage flanked by handrails.

Heart-wrenching video shows women shoving each other and gasping for air as they scream for help.

PM 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.

ALSO READ: Gorakhpur News: 12-Km RCC Drain Begins From Gulriha To Chilua Tal To Solve Waterlogging In 3 Wards

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."

Also In News