Venkateswara Temple Stampede: PM Narendra Modi Announces Rs 2 Lakh Ex-Gratia for Families

New Delhi: A heartbreaking stampede hit the Venkateshwara Swamy temple in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday. At least 10 people lost their lives during a puja, and many others got hurt. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep condolences regarding this painful accident. He has also announced compensation for the affected families. At the same time, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has also issued necessary instructions.

What is PM Modi's reaction to this incident?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his deep sadness on X (Formerly Twitter). "Heartbroken by the stampede at Venkateshwara Swamy temple. My thoughts are with the families who've lost loved ones," he posted. To ease the pain a bit, he's sending Rs two lakh to each family of those who passed and Rs 50 thousand to the injured folks—from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. His office added that the central government is talking closely with state officials and ready to pitch in however needed. Modi also sent quick-healing wishes to everyone hurt.

CM Naidu Steps Up with Orders

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was gutted too. On Twitter, he said, "Shocked and saddened by the stampede at Venkateshwara temple in Kasibugga. This is a terrible loss. I've told the team to speed up relief work and give top-notch medical help to the injured." He's kicked off a full probe into what went wrong and promised better ways to handle crowds moving forward—learning from this tough lesson. Naidu wrapped up by saying the government is right there for the families in their darkest hour.

Big Questions Lingering Now

Folks around town are whispering—and shouting—about why this happened. The temple sees thousands every single day, but was there enough planning for the rush? Not really, some say. The administration is owning up now, vowing fresh rules for safety and crowd flow in the days ahead to stop repeats. It's a stark wake-up: faith pulls us in, but keeping everyone safe matters just as much. A look into any slip-ups by officials is underway, and the whole community is still reeling from the shock.