NEW DELHI (AP) — A crowd surge at a popular Hindu temple in southern India left at least seven people dead and dozens injured, local authorities said Saturday.
The incident occurred at the Swamy Venkateswara Temple in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh state where hundreds of devotees had gathered to mark one of Hinduism’s sacred days, “Ekadashi,” senior police officer K. V. Maheswra Reddy told the Associated Press.
On this day, the devotees fast and offer prayers to Lord Vishnu, a key Hindu deity.
Reddy said more casualties were feared. “Condition of at least three is critical,” he said, adding that the injured have been taken to local hospitals for treatment.
An initial investigation suggests that an iron grille meant to maintain the queue of worshippers at the temple broke, leading to the uncontrolled crowd surge, Reddy said.
N. Chandrababu Naidu, the state’s highest-elected official, expressed grief and offered condolences to the families of the bereaved.
“It is extremely tragic that devotees who came for darshan (seeing) of the deity have lost their lives in this manner,” Naidu said on X.
Crowd surges at religious gatherings are not uncommon in India, where massive groups often congregate at temples or pilgrimage sites, sometimes overwhelming local infrastructure and security measures.
In July, a crowd surge at a popular Hindu temple in northern India left at least six people dead and dozens injured.
