Police bar entry at Kasibugga temple after 9 deaths

Andhra Pradesh police banned devotees from entering the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Srikakulam district on Sunday, November 2, 2025, following the tragic incident in which nine people were crushed to death during a religious gathering there the previous day.

On Saturday, November 1, nine people, including 8 women and 1 man, died and many people were injured in this temple in Kasibugga town. Many people were hospitalized for limb fractures and shortness of breath.

Also Read: Highlights of Andhra Pradesh stampede

According to survivors, the only gate was closed and a group of devotees, who were earlier allowed to enter the temple for darshan, along with a broken grate, suddenly fell on a large number of people waiting at the bottom of the staircase, leading to the tragedy.

Srikakulam district police chief KV Maheshwara Reddy said, “Due to this tragedy, we have banned devotees from entering the temple.” PTI.

Nine bodies were sent for postmortem and later handed over to their families, he said, adding that two persons who sustained serious injuries are now stable, and others have been discharged.

The SP said the temple organizers neither obtained mandatory permissions nor applied for police protection before holding the event.

“It is mandatory for temples or religious institutions to inform the police in advance for crowd management, regardless of attendance,” he said.

According to the SP, the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple is a private establishment and is operating without necessary approvals. The organizers reportedly did not comply with safety protocols. Meanwhile, the police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).