A tragic stampede at Andhra Pradesh‘s Tirupati temple late Wednesday claimed the lives of six devotees and left several others injured. The incident occurred near the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan ticketing center as a large crowd gathered to secure tokens for the 10-day Vaikuntha Dwara Darshanam, which starts on January 10.
The stampede broke out as hundreds of devotees rushed to obtain tickets. Injured individuals were immediately taken to the Sri Venkateswara Ramnarayan Ruia Government General Hospital for treatment.
One of the victims, Mallika, tragically lost her life in the stampede. Her grieving husband stated, “While my wife and others were trying to obtain Vaikunta Dwara Darshan tickets, a stampede occurred, resulting in her death. I have informed our relatives, and they are on their way.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the incident, stating on X “Pained by the stampede in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover soon. The AP Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected.”
TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) chairman BR Naidu described the stampede as a “purely accidental” event during a press conference. “It is an unfortunate event, and six pilgrims lost their lives. So far, only one victim has been identified, and efforts are underway to identify the others,” Naidu said.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep dissatisfaction with the management of the event. During a high-level review meeting with top officials, he questioned the lack of adequate arrangements despite anticipating a large crowd.
“Why weren’t adequate arrangements made, knowing a large number of devotees would attend? Isn’t it crucial to ensure utmost vigilance and responsibility in managing such sensitive situations?” the CM asked.
The Chief Minister directed officials to provide the best medical care to the injured and reassess the management of token distribution. He announced plans to visit Tirupati at 11:45 a.m. on Thursday to meet the injured and personally evaluate the situation.
Rahul Gandhi also expressed condolences and urged Congress workers to assist in relief efforts. “The tragic stampede in Tirupati is deeply saddening. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Wishing a swift recovery to all those injured,” he said.
The Andhra Pradesh government has pledged to take immediate measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Enhanced security and better crowd management strategies will be implemented to ensure the safety of devotees during high-attendance events.