Following the fatal stampede at the private Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, the Andhra Pradesh government has initiated a sweeping review of temple safety protocols, marking a significant administrative response to the tragedy.
Key Developments:
- Closure and Inquiry: The Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga has been closed indefinitely to the public. A specialized investigation team has been formed to probe the incident, with the police registering charges of culpable homicide against the temple founder and detaining staff members.
- Mandatory Data Collection: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu issued a directive instructing all District Collectors and Superintendents of Police to immediately compile comprehensive data on all temples in their jurisdictions—including both those managed by the Endowments Department and private shrines.
- Focus on Safety Protocols: The government has mandated that officials gather details on:
- Estimated footfall during major festivals.
- The status of crowd management systems.
- The mandatory installation of CCTV cameras and adherence to safety norms.
- New SOP for Private Temples: The Endowments Department has been tasked with drafting a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that will specifically regulate privately-run temples holding large public events. The new guidelines will mandate that private event organizers must coordinate with local police and administration before hosting large gatherings to ensure adequate security and crowd control measures are in place.
- Political Debate: The incident has sparked a sharp political debate, with the Opposition criticizing the government for “lapses in governance” and for failing to implement crowd-control measures that were discussed after previous temple tragedies in the state.
The outcome of this inquiry and the subsequent implementation of the new safety SOP will be critical in determining the future of crowd management and pilgrim safety across Andhra Pradesh.