The chaos unfolded as thousands of devotees thronged the temple premises on the occasion of Ekadashi, an auspicious day in the Hindu calendar that traditionally draws large crowds of worshippers. According to officials, over 25,000 devotees had gathered at the shrine—more than ten times its capacity of about 2,000—triggering the deadly crush.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan confirmed the casualties and announced a formal inquiry into the incident. He noted that the temple is privately managed, and preliminary reports suggest that the lack of crowd control measures contributed to the tragedy.
State minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy stated that district authorities have been instructed to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured and ensure that relief operations are carried out swiftly.
Expressing grief over the loss of lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia compensation of ₹200,000 (approximately $2,300) for the families of those who died, and ₹50,000 (about $570) for the injured.
The heartbreaking incident serves as a grim reminder of the recurring dangers posed by overcrowding at religious gatherings in India, where faith often draws millions, but infrastructure and safety management struggle to keep pace.
