At least nine devotees, most of them women and children, lost their lives in a tragic stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, on the occasion of Ekadashi. The incident occurred when an overwhelming crowd gathered for the auspicious day’s rituals, leading to chaos and panic.

Videos from the temple premises revealed distressing visuals of overcrowded stairways where devotees, particularly women holding puja baskets, were seen jostling in a desperate attempt to escape the crush. Several bodies were later found inside the temple complex as authorities rushed to the site.

Police officials reached the spot promptly and managed to bring the situation under control.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep anguish over the tragedy, describing the loss of devotees as “extremely heartbreaking.” He said, “The stampede incident at the Venkateswara Temple in Kasibugga has caused a shock. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and have directed officials to ensure prompt medical attention for the injured.”

Naidu further instructed local authorities and public representatives to visit the site and oversee relief operations personally.

Nara Lokesh, minister in Naidu’s cabinet, also expressed sorrow and said he was in “profound shock.” He added, “A deep sorrow has gripped us on this Ekadashi day. I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. The government is ensuring proper medical treatment for the injured.” Lokesh confirmed that he had spoken with local officials and the MLA to ensure assistance reaches affected families without delay.

Authorities are expected to carry out a detailed probe into the cause of the overcrowding and assess safety measures at the temple to prevent such tragedies in the future.

A day after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged that state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi is a “Pakistani agent, planted by foreign power”, the opposition leader hit back on Saturday, claiming that such comments show that Sarma is “unfit” to hold his position as head of the government.

Gogoi criticised the timing of the allegations on the day when the state’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg’s last movie was released on Friday.

Sarma had been alleging Pakistani links of Gogoi through his British wife, with the chief minister reiterating the charges on Friday, and claiming that the Congress leader is a “Pakistani agent”, planted by “foreign power”, and that he had evidence to prove it.

Reacting to the charges, Gogoi said in a post on X, “Over the past few months, Himanta Biswa Sarma dangoriya has lost credibility.”

“Yesterday, when the entire state was watching Zubeen Garg perform for the last time in ‘Roi Roi Binale’, the chief minister’s comments showed his growing fear of losing power,” he said.

“It was another example of why he is unfit as the chief minister of the people of Assam,” Gogoi, who is the Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha, claimed.

Garg had died while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19, leading to a massive outpouring of public grief and the government constituting a Special Investigating Team of the state police’s CID to probe the circumstances of the singer-composer-actor’s death.

His last movie, ‘Roi Roi Binale’ (Tears still flow), opened to packed houses on Friday in the state as well as in multiple cities of the country.

—PTI

 Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has accused the BRS and BJP of maintaining a “bond” and attacked former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy for spreading “canards” against the Congress government and creating “hurdles” for the development of the state.

Launching a campaign in support of party candidate for the Jubilee Hills Assembly bypoll, V Naveen Yadav, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy alleged that Kishan Reddy was stalling development of Hyderabad by obstructing expansion of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project and Musi rejuvenation project.

“The BJP leaders are maintaining secret relations with BRS. The BJP’s victory in eight Lok Sabha seats (during 2024 polls) was evidence for it. Did the two Union ministers (Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar) bring any funds to the state,” he asked on Friday.

He charged that the BJP MPs are canvassing in Jubilee Hills without asking for funds from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the development of Telangana.

Stating that the Congress has taken up development projects worth Rs 4,000 crore in Secunderabad Cantonment after the party won the by-election there, the CM appealed to the Jubilee Hills voters to support the Congress candidate Naveen Yadav.

“It is high time for development of the constituency and not the sentiment. It will be a historic mistake if the Congress nominee is not voted to win the by-election,” he said.

Revanth Reddy also hit out at BRS Working President KT Rama Rao for not taking care of Jubilee Hills during his tenure as the Municipal Administration and Urban development minister for 10 years.

“The then (BRS) rulers looted the state and never visited Jubilee Hills to address the public grievances,” he further alleged.

The chief minister also questioned the BJP for raising objections to inducting former cricketer and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin as a minister in his Cabinet.

“Why is the BJP so upset after Azharuddin is given a ministerial post,” he asked.

Revanth Reddy said that he will take the responsibility of the development of Jubilee Hills with the support of Azharuddin and Naveen Yadav soon after the by-elections.

The high-stakes bypoll to Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency here would take place on November 11, with votes to be counted on November 14.

The bypoll is necessitated by the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June this year, following a heart attack.

—PTI