Six Dead, Dozens Injured in Stampede at Hindu Religious Gathering in Andhra Pradesh
At least six people were killed and several others injured in a tragic stampede at a Hindu religious gathering at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday. The incident occurred when a large crowd gathered to collect entrance tokens for the temple visit, causing a deadly crush. Authorities confirmed the fatalities, with several others suffering injuries. Prem Kumar Jain, a spokesman for the state’s ruling Telugu Desam Party, expressed his sorrow, offering condolences to the families of the victims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his sympathies, offering thoughts and prayers to those affected. India has witnessed multiple fatal accidents during religious gatherings in the past, often attributed to poor crowd management and safety lapses. This incident occurred just days before the start of the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest Hindu religious festival, expected to attract up to 400 million pilgrims.
