Tirupati stampede: How it could have been prevented

The chaos occurred on the eve of Vaikunta Ekadasi, an important festival at the Tirumala temple.

The stampede at Tirupati on Wednesday resulted in six deaths and injured over 40 people. This tragic event was preventable, leading experts and devotees to question how it could have been avoided. The Vaikunta Dwara Darshan at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple is a popular event attracting many devotees yearly. Despite the expected large crowd and the temple’s resources, poor planning and crowd management turned what should have been a spiritual experience into a disaster. The main problem was the token distribution system, which became chaotic due to a lack of planning and proper crowd control.

The chaos occurred on the eve of Vaikunta Ekadasi, an important festival at the Tirumala temple. Pilgrims believe that passing through the Vaikunta Dwaram, or the northern entrance, gives them blessings and opens the gates of heaven. This belief attracts millions of devotees to Tirumala during the 10-day festival. On the busiest days, 200,000 to 300,000 people attend, making crowd management very important for the temple authorities.

To control the crowd, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) planned to distribute 120,000 tokens for the first three days of the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, starting on January 10. However, the arrangements did not effectively manage the huge number of devotees.

To improve the distribution process, token counters were set up at various places in Tirupati, such as Vishnu Nivasam and MGM High School. On January 3, thousands of devotees arrived early to get their tokens. By evening, the situation became chaotic when a gate was opened to help a distressed woman at one of the counters. The crowd pushed forward, leading to a stampede that resulted in six deaths and many injuries. TTD Chairman B R Naidu said the stampede happened when devotees rushed forward all at once, breaking the queues.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sadness over the tragedy. On X (formerly Twitter), he said, “The death of several devotees in a stampede near Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati for tokens to visit Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara has shocked me. This tragic incident deeply disturbed me.” The Chief Minister’s Office mentioned that Naidu is monitoring the situation closely and has ordered an investigation into the incident. He also announced financial support for the families of those who died and instructed officials to ensure the injured receive the best medical care. Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha emphasized the need for special attention to the safety of women, children, and the elderly during large gatherings.

Former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy called on the government to provide proper medical care for the injured. Former TTD chairman Bhuma Karunakar Reddy pointed out that the incident was due to administrative failures. Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan expressed his condolences and plans to visit Tirupati. IT, Electronics, and Education Minister N Lokesh Naidu said he was “deeply distressed” by the loss of lives in the stampede and urged immediate actions to prevent such incidents in the future. Former state minister Velampalli Srinivas criticized the state government and the TTD for negligence, claiming that better planning and coordination could have prevented the tragedy. He said that focusing on VIP services instead of the needs of devotees contributed to the incident.

Many devotees believe the tragedy could have been avoided if the TTD had used the post-COVID token distribution system, which allows online bookings and reduces physical queues. A Padmavathi Park holding area devotee said, “This tragedy could have been avoided if the post-COVID token system had been followed.” The sudden switch to physical token distribution without proper crowd control led to disaster. The token counters were overwhelmed, and unclear communication and poor crowd management worsened the situation.

The Vaikunta Ekadasi festival is very important for devotees. It lasts 10 days, during which many pilgrims come to Tirumala to pass through the Vaikunta Dwaram. The Tirumala temple is one of the richest religious institutions in the world, making over ₹1,365 crore each year. In 2024, the temple welcomed over 2.55 crore pilgrims. Despite its wealth, the temple management did not ensure the safety of devotees. The TTD deployed 3,000 police personnel and 1,550 staff members for security and crowd management. They also arranged continuous water and food distribution from 6:00 am to midnight. However, these steps were not enough to manage the huge crowd.

The recent tragedy has raised concerns about how well the temple manages large gatherings. An emergency meeting led by the TTD board chairman took place in Tirupati to address the incident. They are working to control crowds, ensure the safety of devotees, and provide medical care for the injured.

The stampede has cast a shadow over the important Vaikunta Ekadasi festivities. While the festival is spiritually significant, the safety of devotees must come first. This tragedy highlights the need for better crowd management at religious gatherings. Bringing back the online token booking system could help reduce crowds at counters. Setting specific time slots for darshan can manage the flow of devotees and prevent overcrowding. More security personnel and surveillance systems can monitor crowd movements and spot potential risks early. Clear emergency protocols and training for staff to handle crowd surges are essential. Providing clear instructions to devotees through announcements, digital boards, and volunteers can help manage expectations and reduce panic.

This incident should push the TTD and the Andhra Pradesh government to prioritize the safety of devotees over ceremonial events. The temple management's main concern should be the well-being of devotees. No level of religious enthusiasm can justify risking human lives.