At least nine people were killed in a stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kashibugga, Srikakulam district in Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday. The Andhra Pradesh Governor’s Office, in a statement, expressed “anguish and profound grief" over the deaths, saying the incident occurred due to a heavy rush of pilgrims.

Deputy AP Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan in a social media post confirmed that nine people had died in the incident and there was a child among them. “It is extremely tragic that 9 devotees lost their lives in a stampede that occurred due to thousands of devotees thronging for darshan of Lord Venkateswara at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Palasa-Kasibugga town, Srikakulam district, on the occasion of Ekadashi.

The fact that a child was also among them has deeply shaken us," Kalyan said in a social media post. The temple is privately managed and not under the Endowments Department. The organisers did not obtain approvals for the gathering and that the area where devotees had assembled was still under construction.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)