Nine devotees killed in tragic temple accident in Srikakulam

At least nine devotees, including eight women and a 12-year-old boy, were killed and several others injured after a railing collapsed at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga town of Srikakulam district on Saturday morning. The incident occurred around 11.30 a.m. when a large number of worshippers gathered at the privately constructed temple to offer prayers on the auspicious day of Karthika Masam Ekadashi , which coincided with a Saturday dedicated to Lord Venkateswara.

According to Srikakulam Superintendent of Police K.V. Maheswara Reddy, the devotees fell from a height of about six feet when an iron railing near the steps gave way, leading to panic among those waiting for darshan. “It was not a stampede. The railing broke, people panicked and fell on one another. It was purely an accident caused by the owner’s mistake,” the SP said. The officer clarified that no permission or police bandobust had been sought in advance for the event.

The deceased included eight women and one boy, while several others were being treated for injuries at nearby hospitals. District Collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar earlier said ten people were feared dead, but the police later confirmed nine fatalities.

The Kasibugga Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple was built recently by a private individual in late 2023 and is not under the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department. The temple is located within Palasa–Kasibugga municipality, about 130 km northeast of Srikakulam city, and attracts around 1,500 to 2,000 devotees every Saturday. It was stated by the temple’s trustee Hari Mukund Panda that no prior intimation had been given to the police or local officials, as the organisers did not expect such a large turnout of devotees.

Following the tragedy, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep anguish, saying the death of devotees was “extremely saddening.” Speaking at a programme in Sri Sathya Sai district, the Chief Minister observed that the incident had occurred in a privately built temple and lamented that proper coordination with the police could have prevented the loss of lives. He announced that a full-scale inquiry would be conducted and that strict action would be taken against those found responsible. The Chief Minister observed two minutes of silence in memory of the victims and directed officials to ensure prompt medical care for the injured.

Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha also expressed shock and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families. She said at least five people were injured and noted that the temple, built on an elevated platform, witnessed the collapse of a railing while devotees were climbing the steps. She reiterated that the temple was a private one, not administered by the Endowments Department, and advised officials to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured.

Agriculture Minister K. Achchennaidu, who hails from Srikakulam district, rushed to the accident site and reviewed relief operations. Additional police forces were deployed to control the situation. The Minister spoke with temple authorities and instructed that injured devotees be given immediate care.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his grief through a post on X , saying he was pained by the incident and praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. An ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) was announced for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹2,000 for the injured. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed sorrow over the loss of lives.

Police officials said that a case would be registered against the temple organisers under Section 304A (causing death by negligence) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 337 and 338 for endangering life and causing injuries. A magisterial inquiry was ordered by the district administration to ascertain the circumstances that led to the tragedy.