At least nine killed in stampede at India's Andhra Pradesh temple ritual VIDEO

At least nine people were killed on November 1 during a stampede at a religious event in southern India’s Andhra Pradesh state, foreign media reported.

The tragedy occurred as thousands of devotees gathered for a ritual offering at the Venkateswara Temple in Kashibugga, located in the Srikakulam district, when a sudden surge in the crowd triggered the deadly stampede.

Chandrababu Naidu, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, expressed his sorrow over the incident on the social media platform X, emphasising the heartbreak of losing lives during a religious gathering.

“The death of devotees in this tragic incident is extremely heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” he wrote.

The state’s governor, Abdul Nazeer, confirmed the death toll and noted that the stampede occurred due to a heavy rush of pilgrims.

Naidu also stated that he has instructed officials to ensure prompt and proper medical care for those injured in the stampede.

“I have requested the local officials and public representatives to visit the site of the incident and oversee the relief measures,” he added.

The authorities are continuing to monitor the situation as relief and medical efforts are underway for those affected.

By Tamilla Hasanova