Nine Dead, Dozens Injured in Overcrowded Andhra Pradesh Temple Stampede

A deadly crowd surge at the Swamy Venkateswara Temple in Kasibugga, Andhra Pradesh, southern India, resulted in at least nine deaths and dozens of injuries during a Hindu religious ceremony on the auspicious day of Ekadashi. The temple, which has a maximum capacity of around 3,000, was overwhelmed by about 25,000 devotees, leading to chaos when an iron grille meant to control the queue collapsed. The victims include eight women and a child, with several others critically injured and receiving treatment. Local authorities noted the temple is privately managed without required official permissions or adequate crowd control measures, and an inquiry has been promised. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and regional leaders expressed grief and announced compensation for victims' families and the injured. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in managing large religious gatherings in India, where crowd surges have caused multiple fatalities in recent events.