Stampede Victims Get Divine Blessings: Tirumala Temple Arranges Special Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan

Stampede Victims Get Divine Blessings: Tirumala Temple Arranges Special Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan (Image: ANI)

Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh – In a compassionate gesture following a tragic stampede at the Tirumala temple earlier this week, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) arranged a special Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan on Friday for the injured devotees. This initiative, directed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and TTD Chairman, aimed to offer spiritual solace to those affected by the incident.

A total of 52 people, injured during the stampede, were given priority access to the darshan at the renowned Venkateswara Swamy temple. The stampede occurred on Wednesday, January 8, as a massive crowd gathered to secure tickets for the Vaikuntha Ekadashi festival. Tragically, six lives were lost, and nearly 40 people sustained injuries in the incident.

Political Reactions and Criticism

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy criticised the administration and police for their lack of preparedness, stating that the tragedy could have been avoided with better planning and coordination.

“The Vaikuntha Ekadashi crowd is expected every year. Why weren’t proper arrangements made at the ticket counters? Why wasn’t adequate security deployed? This incident highlights the administration’s failure to act systematically,” said Reddy.

He emphasised that despite anticipating a large gathering, poor planning and weak coordination between the TTD, district administration, and police led to the unfortunate event. Reddy also met with the injured victims in Tirupati on Thursday to offer his support and condolences.

Government Support and Relief Measures

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, while visiting the site of the stampede, announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹25 lakh for the families of the deceased and promised contract jobs as additional support. The injured were assured special darshan at the temple, which was organised on Friday.

“I’m not blaming anyone, but the situation could have been handled better. Security was deployed, but more precautions should have been taken. If tickets had been released earlier, this might not have happened. There needs to be better coordination among officials,” said Naidu, reflecting on the incident.

The Chief Minister’s statement acknowledged lapses in managing the crowd and emphasised the need for preventive measures to avoid such tragedies in the future.

Moving Forward

The TTD’s decision to provide special darshan for the injured devotees reflects its commitment to supporting those affected. However, this tragic incident has raised questions about crowd management and administrative readiness during major festivals at the Tirumala temple.

The Vaikuntha Ekadashi festival continues to draw thousands of devotees each year, and with lessons learned from this incident, authorities are expected to implement stronger safety measures to ensure the well-being of pilgrims.

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