What Went Wrong at Kasibugga Temple? Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu Blames Organisers' Negligence for Deadly Stampede

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday vowed strict action against those responsible for the deadly stampede at the Venkateswara Swami Temple in Kasibugga, which claimed nine lives. Speaking at an event in Sri Sathya Sai district, Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the incident and blamed the organisers for failing to inform the police or local authorities about the large gathering.“It is extremely painful that innocent people lost their lives in the stampede. I pay my respects to the deceased. A private individual constructed the Venkateswara temple at Kashi Bugga, and due to Kartika Ekadashi, a large number of devotees gathered there," Naidu said, as quoted by The Times of India. "Unfortunately, the organisers did not

inform the police or local authorities about the event. Had they informed us, we would have provided police protection and controlled the crowd. Because of this lack of coordination, nine people lost their lives and five were injured," he added.

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The chief minister announced that a full-fledged inquiry would be conducted into the incident and promised that strict action would be taken against those found responsible. “The government is committed to ensuring that not a single life is lost, but it is very unfortunate that such incidents occur during private programmes,” Naidu added.Officials said the tragedy occurred around 11.30 AM when an iron railing collapsed near the steps of the temple, causing panic among devotees. Many fell from a height of about six feet as the crowd surged forward.According to Srikakulam Superintendent of Police KV Maheswara Reddy, the victims included eight women and a 12-year-old boy. "Nine (deaths). Nine only, (Condition of) one person is bit serious. He is not dead. Total nine people. One child is there, a 12-year-old child; the remaining (victims) are all female. And it is a private temple. It is not a government temple. It was constructed recently,” Srikakulam Superintendent of Police KV Maheswara Reddy told PTI.However, Srikakulam District Collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar earlier put the toll at 10.Reddy further said that the incident occurred due to the collapse of an iron grill near the steps. The public, in fear, thought that something was falling and panicked. They fell from a height of about six feet. There was no stampede. Since the collapse was from a height of six feet, one person fell on another, and that led to the incident."It is purely an accident and due to the owner’s mistake. They haven’t applied for police bandobust, there were no permissions also," he added, as quoted by PTI.President Droupadi Murmu condoled the loss of lives in a stampede at a temple in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured.Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 2,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.