Stampede near temple chariot leaves five devotees seriously injured
A mishap occurred during the annual chariot festival at the famous Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Kadiri of Anantapur district, leaving at least five devotees seriously injured. The incident took place during the grand Rathotsavam celebrations, which attract thousands of devotees every year.
According to preliminary reports, the temple authorities had organized the traditional chariot procession as part of the annual festivities. The decorated temple chariot carrying the idol of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy was being pulled through the streets by devotees, a ritual that holds great spiritual significance for the faithful.
During the procession, a large number of devotees gathered around the chariot to participate in pulling the ropes and seeking blessings. Due to the heavy crowd near the chariot, a sudden commotion reportedly broke out, leading to a stampede-like situation.
Eyewitnesses said that as the chariot was being pulled forward, some devotees lost balance amid the pushing and crowd pressure. In the resulting chaos, several people fell near the wheels of the moving chariot. At least five devotees reportedly came under the chariot or were injured during the commotion, suffering serious injuries.
The incident created panic among the devotees present at the festival. People nearby immediately rushed to help the injured individuals and pulled them away from the chariot. Temple staff and volunteers also acted quickly to rescue the victims and clear the crowd from the immediate area.
The injured devotees were immediately shifted to the nearby Government Area Hospital Kadiri for medical treatment. Doctors at the hospital are providing emergency care, and the condition of some of the injured is said to be critical, according to initial reports.
Following the incident, the Rathotsavam procession was temporarily halted as police and temple authorities worked to control the situation. Devotees present at the venue were asked to move back and maintain order to prevent further mishaps.
Police personnel deployed for festival security rushed to the spot and brought the crowd under control. Barricades were strengthened, and devotees were guided to maintain safe distance from the moving chariot before the procession resumed.
The Kadiri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple is one of the most revered temples in the region, drawing thousands of devotees from across Andhra Pradesh and neighboring states during major festivals. The annual Rathotsavam is considered a highly significant religious event where devotees believe that pulling the chariot brings divine blessings.
However, due to the large turnout of devotees each year, managing crowd movement becomes a major challenge for temple authorities and local administration. Following the latest incident, several devotees expressed concern over the need for stronger crowd control measures and improved safety arrangements during such large gatherings.
Officials have begun examining the circumstances that led to the accident. Preliminary indications suggest that the heavy crowd around the chariot and lack of adequate space for movement may have triggered the sudden pushing and stampede.
Temple authorities and police officials have assured that a detailed inquiry will be conducted to identify the exact cause of the incident and to prevent such accidents in the future. Additional safety measures are also expected to be implemented for the remaining festival events.
Meanwhile, doctors at the Kadiri Government Hospital continue to monitor the injured devotees. Authorities stated that all necessary medical assistance is being provided to the victims.
The situation in Kadiri has now returned to normal, though the incident has caused concern among devotees and residents. Further details about the victims and the exact circumstances of the mishap are expected to emerge after an official review of the incident.