Sun Nov 02 09:58:02 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

A stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga, Andhra Pradesh, India, resulted in the deaths of nine devotees (eight women and a boy) on November 1, 2025. Several others were injured. Police have closed the temple and launched an investigation, citing that the temple organizers failed to obtain necessary permits or request police protection for the event, and that the temple itself may be operating without proper approvals.

News Article:

Nine Killed in Temple Stampede in Andhra Pradesh

Kasibugga, Andhra Pradesh – November 2, 2025 – A tragic stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, claimed the lives of nine devotees on Saturday, November 1, 2025. Eight women and one young boy were killed, and several others sustained injuries, some requiring hospitalization.

The incident occurred during a religious gathering at the temple. Survivors reported that a closed gate and a sudden collapse of a broken grill onto the waiting crowd triggered the deadly crush.

Following the tragedy, authorities have closed the temple to the public while an investigation is underway. Srikakulam Superintendent of Police K.V. Maheshwara Reddy stated that the temple organizers failed to secure mandatory permissions or request police assistance for crowd management, a standard protocol for religious gatherings.

“It is mandatory for temples or religious institutions to inform police in advance for crowd management, irrespective of the turnout,” Reddy said. He also revealed that the temple may be operating without proper approvals as a private establishment.

Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The bodies of the deceased have been sent for postmortem examination and subsequently returned to their families. Those injured are receiving medical treatment, and two who sustained serious injuries are reported to be in stable condition.

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