At least nine persons were killed in a stampede at the Venkateshwara temple in Kasibugga town of Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district on Saturday, said the Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s office.

Those who died included at least one child.

Several persons were injured and were being treated.

The stampede took place after a large crowd had gathered at the temple on the occasion of Ekadashi, ANI quoted the chief minister’s office as saying.

“The heavy rush of devotees led to overcrowding, resulting in a sudden stampede,” it said.

However, Srikakulam Superintendent of Police KV Maheswara Reddy told The Hindu that it was “not a stampede per se”.

“Nine devotees have been killed and two devotees are battling with severe injuries after they fell down from the wall which is connected to the railing,” the newspaper quoted Reddy as saying. “The devotees attempted to escape from the queue in panic after the iron railing was damaged.”

Reddy added that a case had been filed against the temple owner, Hari Mukunda Panda, under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita section pertaining to culpable homicide “for the negligence that caused the death of the devotees”.

Kasibugga is located about 80 km south of Odisha’s Brahmapur.

The Prime Minister’s Office announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the families of those who died. The injured will get Rs 50,000 each.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed his condolences and said that the incident has “caused a shock”. The Telugu Desam Party leader said that he has instructed officials to provide speedy and proper treatment to those who were injured in the stampede.

Later in the day, Naidu said that the temple was constructed and operated by a private persons, The New Indian Express reported. He also accused the organisers of not informing the police or local authorities about the event.

“Had they informed us, we would have provided police protection and controlled the crowd,” the newspaper quoted the chief minister as saying while speaking to a gathering in Sri Sathya Sai district. “Because of this lack of coordination, nine people lost their lives and five were injured.”

Naidu also said that an investigation had been ordered into the incident and added that strict action would be taken against those responsible.

The deputy chief minister’s office quoted Kalyan as having asked the administration “to regulate the crowds of devotees at temples across the state during spiritually significant days and ensure that no such accidents occur”.

State minister Nara Lokesh also expressed grief about the stampede and said that he had spoken to local officials to provide assistance to those affected.