Kasibugga: Claiming he was not responsible for the tragic Andhra temple stampede that left nine devotees dead, its 94-year-old founder has said devotees rushed on their own during the gathering.

The founder of Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple said he had not informed the police as he thought everything would be normal like any other day and did not expect such a big crowd on Saturday.

Nine people–eight women and a boy–were killed and many others injured in the stampede at the temple constructed by Panda on his own land, in Srikakulam , on Saturday.

The tragedy was worsened by the Ekadasi observance coinciding with ‘Karthika Masam’, drawing large crowds.

“What should I do if so many people come at once? I usually send everyone in line, but yesterday there were so many people. I don’t kn

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