Andhra Stampede: 9 Dead, Political Blame Game Erupts After Temple Tragedy

A day of devotion turned into a tragedy at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Kasibugga, Andhra Pradesh, where a stampede during Ekadashi celebrations left nine people dead and several injured. The temple, which is privately managed, had reportedly not obtained the required permissions or crowd-control arrangements. Officials say the area was still under construction, with weak railings and temporary barricades that collapsed under the surge of devotees.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has blamed the temple organisers for negligence, while the state government has ordered a high-level probe. Political blame games have erupted, with YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy holding the Naidu government responsible for the failure in safety oversight.