Amaravati: At least nine devotees, mostly women and children, lost their lives in a tragic stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district during the Ekadashi celebrations on Saturday, as the massive gathering of worshippers led to chaos and panic.

Disturbing visuals from the temple premises showed bodies of devotees lying on the ground as rescue teams and locals rushed to help the injured.

Earlier, videos from the temple showed massive overcrowding, with hundreds of women holding puja baskets jostling on a staircase in a frantic attempt to save themselves.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Chhattisgarh, expressed his grief over the incident and announced compensation for the victims.

“Pained by the stampede in Venkateswara Swamy Tem

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