The incident occurred at Tirupati Vishnu Nivasam, when pilgrims rushed in for tokens for the Vaikunda Dwara Sarva Darshanam.
Published Jan 08, 2025 | 10:13 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 09, 2025 | 9:18 AM
The injured being shifted to the general hospital.
Six people, including five women, were killed and more than 25 others injured in a stampede at the token counter in Tirupati around 9.45 pm on Wednesday, 8 January.
The incident occurred at Tirupati Vishnu Nivasam when pilgrims rushed in for tokens for the Vaikunda Dwara Sarva Darshanam at the Sri Venkateshwara Temple. Reports said one of the deceased was Mallika from Salem in Tamil Nadu.
The injured were taken to Sri Venkateswara Ramnarayan Ruia Government General Hospital and Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS). Sources said 18 people were undergoing treatment at the General Hospital, while eight others are in SVIMS.
Reports said a scuffle between devotees at the token counter at the Bairagipatteda Ramanaidu School led to the stampede. Another scuffle was also reported from Satyanarayanapuram.
The Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams (TTD) has opened more than 90 counters to issue tokens for the Vaikunda Ekadasi on 10 January. The TTD website said 62,566 devotees had visited the hill shrine on Monday, 6 January.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu spoke to district and TTD officials. He held a review meeting, attended by DGP Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, TTD Executive Officer Shyamala Rao, District Collector and SP.
Naidu directed senior officials to ensure good treatment for the injured. He will visit Tirupati on Thursday.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan urged the TTD authorities to make immediate arrangements to support and provide information to the relatives of those killed in the stampede. He also urged the authorities to visit the bereaved relatives.
TTD Chairman BR Naidu said that he had anticipated an incident to occur.
“I had information that some scuffle might break out. That’s why I said the same at a press meet this morning. There was a rumour that we would not let anyone into Tirumala for the darshan. I clarified that anyone can come to Tirumala but you need a token for the Darshan. I warned the SP that something like this might happen. He told me that they are deploying 5,000 police personnel to handle the situation. We can’t blame any one person. The mistake has occurred and there isn’t much we can do.”
TTD Chairman BR Naidu said that he had anticipated an incident to occur.
“I had information that some scuffle might break out. That’s why I said the same at a press meet this morning. There was a rumour that we would not let anyone into Tirumala for the darshan. I clarified that anyone can come to Tirumala but you need a token for the Darshan. I warned the SP that something like this might happen. He told me that they are deploying 5,000 police personnel to handle the situation. We can’t blame any one person. The mistake has occurred and there isn’t much we can do.”
He added that there was no conspiracy behind the incident. “It is an accident. Nobody would do this deliberately. It was purely an accident.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Andhra Pradesh government was assisting those affected by the stampede.
“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,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the tragic stampede in Tirupati was deeply saddening.
“My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Wishing a swift recovery to all those injured. I urge Congress leaders and workers to provide all possible assistance during this difficult time,” he said in an X post.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also condoled the death of devotees.
“The news of the death of several devotees in a stampede at the ticketing counters for the Darshan of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala has been deeply disturbing. I express my deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased,” he said on X.
A couple of devotees blamed the crowd and the police for the incident.
Speaking to television cameras, a woman, who had fainted and been taken to hospital, said the police were majorly responsible for the tragedy. An unidentified man with her said the police failed to control the crowd.
Meanwhile, former TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy blamed the government for the tragedy.
“The government’s failure led to the stampede. TTD has turned into a political centre. Such crowds are common but today is a dark day in TTD’s history. This is reminiscent of the Pushkaralu stampede under their previous rule. Action should be taken against the management and police,” he demanded.
More details are awaited.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
