NEW DELHI (BN24) — A religious gathering at a Hindu temple in southern India turned tragic Saturday when a crowd surge left at least nine people dead and dozens injured, authorities said.
The deadly incident took place at the Swamy Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district, where thousands of devotees assembled to mark Ekadashi, one of Hinduism’s most sacred fasting days dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Police said the tragedy began when an iron grille meant to control the line of worshippers collapsed, causing a sudden crush of people near the temple entrance. “The structure broke under pressure, and the crowd surged uncontrollably,” senior officer K. V. Maheswara Reddy told The Associated Press.
Local official Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar said initial reports of seven deaths later rose to nine as two victims succumbed to their injuries. Among the dead were eight women and a child, he said. Sixteen devotees remain hospitalized, while another 20 are under observation for shock.
Video clips aired on regional television showed chaotic scenes as worshippers struggled to breathe and others fainted amid the crush. Bystanders were seen fanning and helping those who collapsed on the temple grounds.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed condolences to the victims’ families. Modi described the incident as “heartbreaking,” while Naidu promised strict action against those responsible and ordered a formal inquiry.
Authorities said the temple sits on a 12-acre private property and is not managed by the state’s religious endowment department. The complex, which can accommodate about 3,000 people, was overwhelmed as an estimated 25,000 devotees arrived for the festival.
“Arrangements were not made accordingly, nor was information provided to the government by the concerned individual. This is the reason for the accident,” the Andhra Pradesh Fact Check Unit said on social media.
Crowd surges are a recurring risk during India’s major religious gatherings, where large numbers often exceed local capacity. In July, a similar incident at a northern temple left six dead and several injured.
