A tragic stampede at the Vishnu Niwasam complex in Tirupati resulted in the deaths of six devotees and left 16 others injured on Wednesday. The incident occurred during the distribution of Vaikunthadwara Sarvadarshanam tokens, which allow devotees to visit the famous Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara temple.
The stampede was triggered by a massive rush of devotees attempting to secure their tokens. Reports indicated that as many as 60 people collapsed on top of each other while trying to collect tokens at the counter. Among the deceased, one individual hailed from Salem, Tamil Nadu.
Visuals from the scene showed a heavy police presence as paramedics and ambulance teams worked tirelessly to transport the injured to nearby Ruia Hospital. Local residents and witnesses reported that the chaos occurred due to overcrowding and poor management of the crowd.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board Chairperson, BR Naidu, stated that while the incident was tragic, there was no conspiracy involved. He had previously raised concerns about the potential for such an incident, warning officials to be vigilant. However, rumors about restricted access to the temple may have contributed to the crowd’s panic.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed his shock over the incident, calling it deeply disturbing. He assured the public that the state government would take all necessary steps to support the victims and provide relief measures for the injured. “I am in constant contact with district and TTD officials to ensure that the injured receive the best medical treatment,” Naidu said. He also confirmed that he would visit Tirupati to personally assess the situation.
Locals criticized the response to the emergency, alleging that the delay in ambulance services worsened the situation. Ambulance drivers were reportedly unavailable, causing delays in transferring the wounded to the hospital.
Tirupati’s Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan tokens, which are highly sought after by devotees, were scheduled to be distributed from 5 a.m. on the same day, with people lining up early to collect them. The incident has raised serious questions about crowd management, with an official probe now underway to determine if police negligence played a role.
Political leaders from various parties have expressed condolences and called for accountability. Andhra MLA and TDP General Secretary, Nara Lokesh, condemned the incident and urged TTD to implement better safety measures. “The government must ensure that such tragedies are prevented in the future,” Lokesh stated. Congress leader YS Sharmila also expressed her sorrow and called for a thorough investigation into the management failures that led to the stampede.
As the investigation continues, authorities are focused on determining the cause of the overcrowding and reviewing the response of local law enforcement and medical services. The families of the deceased are being provided with support, and the injured are receiving medical attention.
This tragic event has once again highlighted the need for improved crowd control and emergency preparedness at religious and high-traffic events.
Sources By Agencies
