Overview
- Large crowds converged on the Ujjaini Mahankali Temple on Sunday, with multiple outlets reporting queues stretching nearly a kilometre and wait times of four to five hours for many devotees.
- Hyderabad Police said they deployed about 2,500 personnel and introduced an AI-based crowd management system that links CCTV with facial‑recognition and density mapping to spot offenders and trigger crowd-control responses.
- Devotees complained that long waits were worsened by VIP visits and people bypassing barricades, with reporters quoting worshippers who asked for seating points, more shade and better water distribution for elderly attendees.
- The Rangam oracle, Matangi Swarnalatha, delivered a prophecy warning of heavy rains, floods, fires, accidents and possible loss of life and urged that a promised idol installation be completed within months.
- The festival drew high political visibility and a funding row, with a Union minister calling the state's reported Rs 20 crore allocation inadequate and temple officials saying about 3 lakh devotees had prayed by evening, underlining pressures on public services and disaster planning.