What led to the Andhra temple stampede that claimed the lives of at least 10?

At least ten people including women and children, were killed and several others were injured in a stampede that occurred at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, early on Saturday (November 1, 2025).

The tragedy unfolded during the Ekadashi observance, an auspicious day for Hindus, when the temple grounds became dangerously overcrowded with an estimated 25,000 worshippers.

What happened at Andhra Pradesh’s ‘Mini Tirupati’?

The Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, situated in the town of Kasibugga in Srikakulam district, is popularly referred to as Chinna Tirupati or Mini Tirupati due to its architectural resemblance to the Tirumala temple.

Built on private land, the temple is managed independently and was inaugurated only four months ago by its founder, 80-year-old landlord Mukunda Panda.

Devotees from across Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Odisha visit the 12-acre complex to seek blessings, especially on weekends and festive days.

On ordinary Saturdays, the temple typically attracts 10,000 to 15,000 visitors. However, this Saturday coincided with Ekadashi, one of the most significant days in the Hindu calendar, drawing nearly double that number.

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Officials stated that the temple’s capacity was limited to around 2,000 to 3,000 people, but the turnout was nearly tenfold. With thousands arriving in the early hours to perform rituals, the narrow passageways quickly became congested.

As the crowd swelled, devotees in the women’s queue reportedly began to push forward, causing the barricades — which were temporary and part of an under-construction area — to collapse.

People stumbled and fell, triggering panic that cascaded through the densely packed crowd.

District authorities said most victims suffocated or were trampled as devotees tried desperately to escape. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as family members attempted to lift people from the ground or resuscitate those who had fainted.

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Visuals from the site showed devotees gasping for breath and others trying to perform CPR on victims using basic first aid knowledge.

What led to the Andhra temple stampede?

Initial investigations have pointed to multiple failures in safety planning and event management.

Officials revealed that the temple had only one entry and exit route, which made evacuation and crowd regulation nearly impossible once panic began. As people attempted both to enter and leave through the same point, congestion worsened.

Authorities confirmed that the temple management did not inform local officials or the district police about the scale of the gathering expected for Ekadashi.

This lack of coordination meant no formal crowd control measures or emergency arrangements were put in place. The absence of a structured security plan proved fatal once the number of devotees exceeded the site’s capacity.

The temple compound was still under construction when the event was held. Temporary barricades, incomplete railings, and ongoing civil work created an unsafe environment.

“The railings and the structures meant for crowd control appear to have been makeshift. They gave way when the crowd pressed against them,” an official told The Indian Express.

Deputy Superintendent of Police for Palasa, the jurisdiction under which the temple falls, confirmed that while police occasionally assist with temple security when requested, there was no prior alert of such massive turnout.

Who is responsible for the temple’s management?

The Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple is not registered under the state’s Endowments Department, which typically governs temple administration, revenue, and safety protocols for recognised shrines.

State Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy confirmed that the temple was privately managed and did not fall under government oversight.

“The capacity of this temple is only up to 2,000 to 3,000 people. Today, being Ekadashi, up to 25,000 people arrived all at once. Arrangements were not made accordingly, nor was information provided to the government. This is the reason for the accident,” he said in a video message on X.

Local legislator G Sireesha, MLA from the Palasa constituency, reiterated that the temple was constructed and maintained by the Panda family without government affiliation.

“It was built several months ago by Mukund Panda, a landlord. He and his family maintain and manage the temple,” she said.

Former minister and ex-YSRCP MLA Seediri Appalaraju claimed that although the temple management anticipated a heavy rush, there was insufficient police presence.

“Several youths, including YSRCP workers who volunteer at the temple every Saturday, noticed the heavy rush and called the police, but not enough personnel were sent there. The state government should look into this,” he said.

Officials have also confirmed that the temple’s management neither obtained public safety clearance nor coordinated with the fire or health departments ahead of the large-scale religious gathering.

How did govt officials react?

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu described the tragedy as a severe lapse that could have been avoided with timely coordination.

“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,” he said in a post on X.

Naidu also warned of strict action against those responsible. “Due to planning, we were able to avoid more loss of life in the cyclone. Sadly, so many people died in the stampede. Those responsible for this incident will be dealt with seriously and taken into custody,” he stated.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan confirmed that an official inquiry had been ordered.

“An inquiry will be conducted into the tragic incident,” he said, adding that the state government was ensuring immediate relief and medical support to the injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences.

“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,” his office stated.

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.

An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who…

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 1, 2025

Echoing the sentiment, President Droupadi Murmu also wrote on X, “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.”

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.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 1, 2025

How will the victims be compensated?

Following the Modi’s announcement, state authorities also confirmed compensation measures.

The government will pay Rs. 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to those injured.

Relief camps and medical teams were deployed to assist victims and their families, while search and rescue personnel continued combing through the site for hours after the incident.

Andhra Pradesh minister for HRD Nara Lokesh, who oversees RTGS operations, is coordinating relief efforts and will personally visit the site.

Local hospitals in Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam have been instructed to provide round-the-clock treatment for those injured.

Naidu has directed the district collector and senior police officials to identify safety lapses and submit a comprehensive report.

The inquiry will examine whether negligence or violation of safety norms contributed to the tragedy and whether the temple management failed to adhere to the required protocols for large gatherings.

Why is this not new in the state?

The Srikakulam disaster is the third temple-related fatality incident in Andhra Pradesh in 2025.

On April 30, seven devotees lost their lives and six others were injured when a wall collapsed at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Visakhapatnam’s Simhachalam during Akshaya Tritiya celebrations.

Earlier, on January 8, a stampede at Tirupati killed six and injured several others during ticket distribution for special darshan.

Experts argue that religious institutions attracting large gatherings must follow state guidelines on public safety, emergency planning, and coordination with disaster response units.

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With inputs from agencies