Stampede in Tirupati Claims Six Lives, Leaves 40 Injured During Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam Ticket Distribution
A tragic stampede in Tirupati on Tuesday left six devotees dead and 40 injured as a massive crowd surged to collect tickets for the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple on Tirumala Hills. The incident occurred when hundreds of devotees rushed as the counters opened, leading to chaos.
According to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman B.R. Naidu, the stampede was triggered after the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) opened the gates, prompting the devotees to push forward. The Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, a 10-day religious event attracting lakhs of devotees from across India, is scheduled to begin on January 10.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep shock over the incident and directed senior officials to rush to Tirupati to oversee relief measures. He also instructed the provision of high-quality medical treatment for the injured and held discussions with district authorities and TTD officials to assess the situation. “The stampede in Tirupati has deeply shocked me. I have asked the concerned officials to ensure relief and medical aid,” CM Naidu said.
Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, along with Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad and Home Minister Anitha, is set to visit Tirupati to take necessary action and meet the families of the victims.
Tirupati Municipal Commissioner Mourya clarified that while most counters operated peacefully, the stampede occurred at a counter near MGM School. Approximately 4,000-5,000 devotees rushed at once, causing the chaos. Mourya assured that the situation is now under control.
TTD board member Bhanu Prakash Reddy expressed regret over the incident, describing it as unprecedented in TTD’s history. “We had opened 91 counters to distribute tokens for Ekadasi Darshan. Unfortunately, a stampede occurred. Six devotees have lost their lives, and 40 are injured. We are providing the best possible medical care and will conduct an inquiry into the matter. Serious action will follow,” he said, apologizing to the devotees.
Out of the six fatalities, one body has been identified. Chairman Naidu further stated that the Chief Minister had held a teleconference to express his dissatisfaction with temple employees and called the incident unfortunate. CM Naidu is expected to visit Tirupati later today.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, expressed his condolences in a social media post, calling the incident “deeply saddening.” He urged Congress leaders and workers to assist in relief efforts, offering sympathies to the bereaved families and wishing a swift recovery for the injured.
This tragic event has cast a shadow over the otherwise revered Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, raising concerns over crowd management and safety measures at such large-scale religious gatherings.
