Stampede at Andhra Pradesh Temple Kills at Least 9 During Ekadashi

Overview

• Police said a metal railing gave way at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Srikakulam district, unleashing a sudden crush during Saturday’s observance.
• Eight women and one child were among the dead, with 16 people hospitalized and about 20 others under observation for shock, according to local officials.
• Roughly 25,000 worshippers converged on a venue designed for around 2,000 to 3,000 people, the Andhra Pradesh government’s fact‑checking unit reported.
• Authorities said the privately administered temple failed to alert officials about the event’s scale and lacked required permissions and adequate safety planning.
• Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ordered a rigorous investigation and vowed accountability, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences and announced payments of 200,000 rupees to families of the deceased and 50,000 to the injured.