At least six devotees lost their lives, and dozens were injured in a stampede on Wednesday night at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills. The tragic incident occurred as hundreds of worshippers rushed for tickets to the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, according to officials.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman BR Naidu confirmed that one body had been identified. He explained that the stampede began when a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) opened the gates, causing a surge in the crowd. "As people pushed forward, the situation escalated, resulting in six deaths," Naidu told a local news channel.
The Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, a significant 10-day event, was set to commence on January 10, attracting devotees from across the country.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the incident. "The stampede near Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati, resulting in the death of devotees seeking Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, has deeply grieved me," he posted on 'X'.
Chairman Naidu mentioned that the Chief Minister conducted a teleconference, expressing dissatisfaction with the temple's administration and calling the incident regrettable. He suggested administrative lapses might have contributed and announced that the Chief Minister would visit Tirupati on Thursday to console the injured.
The Chief Minister has directed authorities to prevent such incidents in the future and will announce compensation for the victims' families on Thursday. TTD board member Bhanu Prakash called the stampede unfortunate and sought forgiveness from the devotees. He assured that stringent measures would be taken to prevent recurrence, although the lost lives could not be reclaimed.
Videos of police personnel performing CPR on some of the injured, including women, and scenes of ambulances transporting the wounded went viral, highlighting the gravity of the situation.