A tragic stampede in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday evening claimed the lives of at least six devotees and left several others injured as hundreds gathered for tickets to the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills. The annual 10-day religious event, which allows darshan of the deity from the temple’s northern entrance, is set to begin on January 10.
What Happened?
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the governing body of the temple, had set up special counters at various locations in Tirupati to distribute 120,000 free “sarva darshan” tokens for the festival. These counters were placed at lodges like Vishnu Nivasam, Srinivasam, and Bhudevi complexes, as well as other locations, including Bairagipatteda and Ramanaidu school.
The tragedy occurred near Vishnu Nivasam when a massive crowd gathered at the distribution counters. According to BR Naidu, chairman of TTD, chaos erupted after a gate was opened to assist a woman who felt unwell. The crowd surged forward uncontrollably, leading to the stampede.
Witnesses reported pushing and jostling as thousands of devotees, who had begun lining up since morning, tried to secure tokens for the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival.
Government Response
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the incident. In a post on X, he wrote:
“The death of several devotees in a stampede near Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati for tokens to visit Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara has shocked me. This tragic incident, which took place at a time when devotees had gathered in large numbers for tokens, deeply disturbed me.”
The Chief Minister directed senior officials to ensure immediate relief measures and provide the best medical treatment to the injured. He confirmed ongoing coordination with district and TTD officials to monitor the situation closely.
TTD Apology
TTD board member Bhanu Prakash termed the incident “unfortunate” and apologized to the devotees, seeking forgiveness from Srivari (Lord Venkateswara Swamy).
Crowd Management Concerns
Despite arrangements for 94 counters at multiple locations, the overwhelming turnout highlighted the challenges in managing such large crowds during peak pilgrimage events. Officials stated that efforts were made to distribute tokens in an orderly manner, but the sheer volume of devotees created bottlenecks at distribution points.
Next Steps
Authorities have launched an inquiry into the stampede and are reviewing crowd management protocols to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Meanwhile, the injured are receiving treatment, and efforts are underway to support the families of the victims.
This incident has cast a shadow over the upcoming Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, an event that draws devotees from across the country seeking blessings during this auspicious period.
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