Hyderabad: A tragic Srikakulam temple stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga claimed the lives of five devotees on Saturday. The incident occurred during heavy rush on the occasion of Ekadashi, when thousands of devotees gathered at the temple.
According to initial reports, the massive crowd led to chaos near the temple entrance, resulting in a sudden stampede. Five devotees died on the spot, while several others suffered serious injuries. Witnesses said the situation turned uncontrollable as devotees pushed to enter the shrine premises.
Officials probe Srikakulam temple stampede
Local authorities and rescue teams rushed to the site and launched relief operations. Injured devotees were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. Officials said the death toll could rise as some victims remain in critical condition.
District authorities have ordered an inquiry into the incident to determine lapses in crowd management. The temple town remained tense following the tragedy, with devotees mourning the loss of lives during the sacred occasion.