A stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga claimed nine lives and left several others injured. The tragedy occurred as thousands of devotees gathered for Ekadashi. Rescue teams rushed to the scene, and the injured were taken to nearby hospitals.
Seven people died on the spot, while two more died during treatment. Among the dead were eight women and a 12-year-old boy. Around 25 people were injured, and the condition of two remains critical.
This marks the third major temple accident under the current Government. Earlier, six devotees died in a stampede at Tirumala during the Vaikunta Ekadasi token distribution in Tirupati. In April, eight devotees lost their lives at Simhachalam Temple when a wall collapsed during Chandanotsavam celebrations on Akshaya Tritiya.
The Kasibugga tragedy follows the same worrying pattern heavy crowds on auspicious days, poor crowd management, and delayed response. Every time, the Government announces compensation, orders an inquiry, and suspends officials. But nothing changes.
These are not isolated incidents anymore. They reflect serious lapses in the Endowments and Home Departments, which should ensure safety during large gatherings. The repeated failures show that lessons are not being learned.
It is unfortunate that such tragedies are recurring under Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership, despite his reputation for strong disaster management. People don’t blame the Government for accidents that happen once. But when they happen again and again, responsibility cannot be denied.
It’s time for the Chief Minister to take firm steps to prevent such incidents and restore public confidence in temple safety.
