India temple stampede claims nine lives

MUMBAI, Nov 01 (AFP): At least nine people were crushed to death after a massive crowd surge at a Hindu temple in southern India's Andhra Pradesh on Saturday, the state's governor said.

The stampede occurred at the Venkateswara temple in Kasibugga in Srikakulam district, where a crowd of devotees had gathered.

Andhra Pradesh governor S. Abdul Nazeer expressed his "profound grief on the death of nine pilgrims in the stampede".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his condolences to those "who have lost their near and dear ones".

"I pray that the injured recover soon," Modi added.

Deadly stampedes and crowd crushes are a common occurrence at big Indian gatherings and religious festivals.

In September, at least 36 people were killed after a stampede broke out at a campaign rally of popular actor-turned-politician Vijay in Tamil Nadu state.

And in June, a sudden crowd surge at a Hindu festival in the coastal state of Odisha triggered a stampede that killed at least three people and injured several others.