A tragic stampede at the newly constructed Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district, claimed the lives of nine devotees — eight women and a child — during Ekadashi celebrations on Thursday.
The temple, locally known as ‘Chinna Tirupati’ or ‘Mini Tirupati’, was built just four months ago by 94-year-old devotee Hari Mukunda Panda. Modeled after the famous Tirumala Venkateswara Swamy Temple, it had quickly become a popular pilgrimage spot despite still being under construction.
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According to officials, the tragedy occurred when a massive crowd gathered at the temple to offer prayers, resulting in a sudden stampede.
In the aftermath, temple founder Hari Mukunda Panda admitted that he had not informed local authorities about the planned event. “I built the temple on my private land. Why should I inform the police or administration?” he said.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who expressed deep sorrow over the incident, blamed the temple authorities for failing to coordinate with the administration. “If the police had been informed earlier, they could have managed the crowd and prevented the tragedy,” he said, assuring that strict action would be taken against those responsible.
Reacting to the criticism, Panda remained defiant. “You may book multiple cases. I have no issues,” he stated.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident and are reviewing whether safety and crowd management measures were neglected during the religious event.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
