NEW DELHI — On Wednesday, a tragic stampede at a temple in southern India resulted in the loss of at least six lives, leaving many others injured. The incident took place as large crowds gathered at the entrance, following the temple’s gates being opened, as reported by the Press Trust of India, citing the temple’s Chairman, B.R. Naidu.

A significant number of devotees had traveled from various parts of India to participate in a 10-day event celebrating the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati, located in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Such crowds often lead to dangerous situations, especially during religious festivals, where thousands of individuals congregate in confined spaces that may lack adequate safety measures and infrastructure.

Stampedes at religious events have a grim history in India. In July, a similar incident claimed the lives of at least 116 individuals—predominantly women and children—when a crowd surged at a gathering in a tent in Hathras town, situated in northern India. This pattern raises concerns about public safety in crowded environments during significant religious observances.

N. Chandrababu Naidu, the state’s chief elected official, expressed his profound sorrow over the latest tragedy in a social media post, stating that the deaths “grieved me intensely.” The ongoing issue of crowd control and safety at religious sites continues to be a significant challenge, emphasizing the need for better planning and infrastructure at such events to prevent future occurrences of similar tragic events.