Andhra Pradesh to strengthen safety measures at private temples

In the wake of three major temple tragedies in Andhra Pradesh in 2025, Chief Secretary K Vijayanand on Monday directed officials to pay special attention to private temples where a heavy influx of devotees is expected, as several festivals and special occasions are lined up.

As many as 22 people died, and nearly 100 were injured during the three temple mishaps. In January, six devotees died, and nearly 40



more were injured during a stampede at Bairagi Patteda near MGM School in Tirupati as hundreds of them jostled for tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills.

On April 30, seven people, including a couple and two of their relatives, were killed when a rain-soaked wall collapsed at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam near Visakhapatnam.