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At least nine people — eight women and a boy — were killed and many others injured at a stampede which occurred at Venkateswara Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district .
According to media reports , Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said the temple, a private one and not under the Endowments Department, usually witnesses a turnout of 1,500 to 2,000 devotees every Saturday.
The tragedy was worsened by the Ekadashi observance coinciding with ‘Karthika Masam’, drawing large crowds.
According to the minister, the temple is located at an elevation on the first floor, and when the devotees were climbing, the railing broke, resulting in the people standing at a corner falling on one another.
One of the survivors from Dharmapuram village near Ichchapuram, said the approach to the temple is narrow, with only a single entry and exit point, which led to a buildup of devotees on both sides and resulted in chaos.
At least seven of the dead are in the age group of 35-40.
