The annual Banni Festival in Kurnool district on the night of October 24 was marked by tragedy, resulting in the loss of three lives and leaving over a hundred injured. "Thousand of people take part in the festival, a ritual where villagers clash with sticks, embodying a historical battle where Lord Shiva defeated demons," explained a local.

During the fervent celebrations, calamity struck when a tree branch, burdened by spectators seeking a better view, snapped, causing fatal injuries to two people named Ganesh (19) and Ramanjaneyulu (54). Additionally, in the midst of the crowd's chaos, Kuruva Prakash (35) tragically succumbed to suffocation.

"The injured were immediately rushed to government hospitals in Aluru and Adoni," officials reported. Despite the deployment of over a thousand policemen, the immense gathering and impassioned participation led to unforeseeable casualties during the midnight event that annually draws a multitude of devotees from across the region.

Annual Banni festival in which people clash with sticks celebrated at Devaragattu in Kurnool district late in the night on October 24. Thousand of people takes part in the festival . It is a practice for the villagers to gather with sticks and clash with one another on the sidelines of the main festival. Villagers believe that Lord Shiva took the form of Bhairava and clobbered two demons, Mani and Mallasura, with sticks. The villagers enact the scene on Vijayadashami day. Group of villagers from the demon's side try to grab the idols from the rival group, called god's team.
During this year event Three persons had lost their lives and more than hundred persons were injured . When several persons climbed up a tree near the festival venue to get a better view, a branch gave in and came crashing down, killing Ganesh (19) and Ramanjaneyulu (54). The heavy pushing and jostling witnessed at the temple took the life of Kuruva Prakash (35) of Ballari, who reportedly died due to suffocation. The injured were rushed to the government general hospitals at Aluru and Adoni. The midnight event draws thousands of devotees from across the undivided Kurnool district every year.More than 1,000 policemen were deployed to prevent any untoward incident.