Kasibuga, Andhra Pradesh, India – November 1, 2025
At least nine people were killed and several others injured in a devastating stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibuga, Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday. The tragedy occurred as thousands of devotees gathered to participate in a Hindu religious ceremony, overwhelming the temple’s capacity and leading to chaos.

Details of the Stampede

According to state officials, the death toll includes eight women and a young boy, with at least one other person reported seriously injured. Local authorities estimated that nearly 25,000 worshippers were present, far exceeding the temple’s infrastructure and safety capacity.

Eyewitnesses reported a railing collapse on the temple’s first-floor premises, which triggered panic and a fatal crowd crush. The lack of separate entry and exit points, combined with overcrowding, contributed to the disaster.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan confirmed that an official inquiry will be conducted into the incident to determine responsibility and prevent future tragedies.

Temple Management and Regulatory Issues

The temple is privately run and not under the supervision of the state’s endowments department. Authorities noted that the organizers had not obtained official approvals for the event and had failed to notify local officials, which prevented them from providing proper security and crowd management.

Government Response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office expressed condolences, describing the stampede as “painful.” Families of the deceased will receive an ex gratia payment of 200,000 Indian rupees (approximately $2,260), while those injured will receive 50,000 rupees ($565) each.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu vowed strict action against those responsible, emphasizing that such tragedies are unacceptable and highlighting the need for better crowd management during religious events.

Context: Rising Crowd-Related Incidents in India

Temple stampedes are not uncommon in India. Earlier in 2025, multiple incidents occurred across the country, highlighting recurring safety failures at large gatherings.

• September 2025: At least 39 people died in a crowd crush during a rally for a popular actor-turned-politician in Tamil Nadu.
• June 2025: A crowd crush outside a cricket stadium in Karnataka killed at least 11 people.

Authorities continue to face challenges managing large crowds at religious and public events, underlining the urgent need for regulatory oversight and crowd safety measures.