Andhra Pradesh's Temple Tragedies: A Call for Enhanced Safety Measures

In 2025, three tragic incidents at temples in Andhra Pradesh resulted in 22 deaths and around 100 injuries. The Chief Secretary urges focused attention on private temples, recommending proactive crowd management measures. Upcoming festivals demand enhanced security and cooperation between temple managements and government authorities to prevent further incidents.

Amidst the sorrow of recent temple tragedies in Andhra Pradesh, which left 22 dead and nearly 100 injured, Chief Secretary K Vijayanand has mandated heightened vigilance at private temples expecting large crowds due to upcoming festivals.

In January, a tragedy struck when six devotees died during a stampede at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple, followed by another incident where seven people, including a family, perished due to a collapsing wall at Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple. The subsequent month, a railing break at Venkateswara temple resulted in nine deaths.

Vijayanand highlighted the essential need for temple managements to inform officials about expected crowds, ensuring adequate security and police permissions. A guideline booklet will be distributed to private temples to help bolster crowd control during significant events, ultimately aiming to avoid further mishaps.

(With inputs from agencies.)