CM Chandrababu Naidu announced ₹25 lakh ex-gratia for each deceased family of Kasibugga temple stampede and ordered a high-level inquiry.
Published Nov 01, 2025 | 5:00 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 01, 2025 | 5:20 PM
Screengrab of the stampede that took place in Kasibugga on 1 November. Credit: x.com/TheNaveena
Synopsis: Three temple tragedies in Andhra Pradesh in 2025 claimed 22 lives: Tirupati stampede (Jan 8), Simhachalam wall collapse (Apr 30), and Kasibugga stampede (Nov 1). Overcrowding, poor infrastructure, and safety lapses lie bare in Andhra Pradesh temples. Government faces criticism; promises digital monitoring, audits, and ex-gratia. Meanwhile, calls for mandatory crowd control and emergency protocols at religious sites grow.
In a grim year for religious gatherings, Andhra Pradesh has witnessed three major temple tragedies since January this year, exposing persistent gaps in crowd control, infrastructure safety, and emergency preparedness.
The incidents—at Tirupati, Simhachalam, and Kasibugga—claimed 22 lives and left dozens injured, prompting statewide scrutiny of festival management protocols.
The first tragedy struck on 8 January at the iconic Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirupati – one of India’s richest and most visited shrines. A chaotic rush for free tokens during the annual Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam triggered a stampede near the ticketing counters.
Over 35 devotees were injured, with six confirmed dead, including elderly pilgrims. Eyewitnesses reported suffocation and trampling as thousands surged forward in narrow lanes.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) later admitted lapses in token distribution and crowd segregation, announcing digital reforms and enhanced police vigilance.
Less than four months later, on 30 April 30, disaster revisited devotees at Simhachalam’s Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Visakhapatnam. During the annual ‘Chandanotsavam‘ festival, a newly constructed wall, weakened by overnight rain, collapsed onto a queue at the ticket counter.
Seven people, mostly women and children, were crushed to death, while six others sustained critical injuries. Temple authorities faced sharp criticism for poor construction oversight and failure to evacuate the area despite visible water seepage. A magisterial probe ordered structural audits across all state-managed temples.
The latest and most devastating incident unfolded today, 1 November, at an under-construction Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district.
Stampede at Venkateswara Swamy Temple (Kasibugga temple) in Srikakulam district of NDA ruled State- Andhra Pradesh.
🔍 At least 09 Devotees died & several others injured due to overcrowding on Ekadashi.
May the Divine grant swift healing to the injured & eternal peace to the… pic.twitter.com/TMGUr0DxNu
— Dipankar Kumar Das (@titu_dipankar) November 1, 2025
Over 25,000 devotees had gathered for ‘Ekadashi‘ celebrations, far exceeding the site’s capacity. Panic erupted on narrow staircases and pathways, leading to a deadly stampede. Apparently, the entry and exit route to the sanctum sanctorium are the same.
Around 10 people, mainly women and children, lost their lives, with several others hospitalised. Cops confirmed the temple was still under development, lacking proper barricading, lighting, and emergency exits.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced ₹25 lakh ex-gratia for each deceased family and ordered a high-level inquiry.
These tragedies have reignited debates over recurring safety failures at religious venues. Experts point to a toxic mix of unchecked devotion, inadequate infrastructure, and lax enforcement.
Opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the TDP government of “shocking negligence,” citing delayed repairs and poor coordination between temple boards, district administrations, and police.
A tragic stampede at Kasibugga Venkateswara Temple in Srikakulam district claimed nine lives and left dozens injured on Ekadashi. Despite prior knowledge of the massive turnout, the TDP-led coalition government and officials failed to arrange proper crowd control, security, or… pic.twitter.com/2u4Um7FPIT
— YSR Congress Party (@YSRCParty) November 1, 2025
The state government, however, defended its record, highlighting increased funding for temple safety and the rollout of AI-based crowd analytics in major shrines.
Former minister Seediri Appala Raju, who hails from the region, alleged that police are aware that 5,000-10,000 people turn up every Saturday. “The number was more today since its Ekadasi,” he said.
Meanwhile, devotees mourn lost loved ones while demanding accountability. “We come seeking blessings, not death,” said a devotee, who lost her aunt in Simhachalam. “When will they learn?”
As Andhra Pradesh heads into the festival season, authorities have issued emergency guidelines: Mandatory pre-festival safety audits, real-time crowd caps via apps, and deployment of rapid response teams.
Whether these measures prevent another tragedy remains to be seen. For now, the state’s temples—symbols of faith—stand shadowed by grief and urgent calls for reform.
