9 Dead in Andhra Temple Stampede During Mahashivratri Event
A horrific stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kandukur, Andhra Pradesh, claimed nine lives, including two children, during a Mahashivratri celebration. The incident occurred during a free food distribution (annadanam) event, where thousands of devotees gathered, leading to chaos and a fatal crowd surge.
Eyewitnesses Describe Chaos and Poor Crowd Control
Witnesses reported that the stampede began around 3 PM when organizers started distributing tokens for the annadanam. Narrow pathways and a lack of barricades worsened the situation, causing devotees, including women and children, to be trampled or suffocated. While local police rushed the injured to hospitals, nine were declared dead on arrival, and over 20 others are still receiving treatment.
Temple Builder’s Controversial ‘Act of God’ Remark
The temple’s builder, Gangi Reddy, faced backlash after stating the tragedy was an “Act of God“ and that “nobody is responsible.” His comments drew fury from victims’ families and opposition leaders, who accused him of evading accountability.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy announced ₹5 lakh ex-gratia for the deceased’s families and ordered a high-level probe. However, concerns remain over negligence in crowd management.
Preliminary Reports Highlight Safety Lapses
- Inadequate infrastructure – Insufficient entry/exit points for large crowds.
- No crowd control – Absence of police or volunteers to manage devotees.
- Delayed response – Authorities failed to deploy sufficient security despite expecting a massive turnout.
Opposition leaders, including TDP’s N. Chandrababu Naidu, demanded strict action, calling the incident a result of “criminal negligence,” not divine intervention.
Temple Stampedes: A Recurring Tragedy in India
India has witnessed multiple deadly stampedes at religious sites, including the 2013 Ratangarh temple tragedy (100+ deaths). Experts urge better crowd-control measures, such as RFID tracking and staggered entry systems, to prevent such disasters.
Demand for Accountability Over Compensation
While the government promises action, victims’ families seek more than financial aid—they want those responsible held accountable. NDMA guidelines for crowd management exist but are rarely enforced strictly.
The Kandukur tragedy serves as another grim reminder of negligence in public safety, with the builder’s “Act of God“ remark offering little solace to grieving families.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
