Tirupati Stampede: Unwell Woman's Emergency Exit Sparks Deadly Rush

Tirupati Stampede: Unwell Woman's Emergency Exit Sparks Deadly Rush

In a tragic turn of events, a stampede at the Tirumala Hills in Andhra Pradesh claimed the lives of six devotees and left over 40 injured. The chaos unfolded two days before the highly anticipated Vaikuntha Ekadasi festival at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple. A massive crowd had gathered to obtain free “sarva darshan” tokens, leading to a breakdown in crowd management and a devastating outcome.

Tirupati Stampede: Thousands Gather for Darshan Tokens

Ahead of the Vaikuntha Ekadasi festival, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), responsible for temple operations, had announced the distribution of 1,20,000 free darshan tokens. These tokens were allocated for the first three days of the 10-day festival, from January 10 to 12.

Distribution was scheduled to begin at 5 a.m. on Thursday at 94 counters across various locations in Tirupati, including Vishnu Nivasam, Srinivasam, and Bhudevi complexes, as well as places like Satyanarayanapuram and Bairagipatteda. However, thousands of devotees arrived a night earlier, creating an overwhelming crowd at the counters.

Tirupati Stampede: Unruly Crowds and the Catalyst for Chaos

The situation spiraled out of control at the counter set up at MGM High School in Bairagipatteda, near Vishnu Nivasam temple. Tirupati Municipal Commissioner N Moruya reported that between 4,000 to 5,000 people had gathered by Wednesday morning, with numbers swelling by the evening. The crowd became unruly, resulting in pushing and jostling.

According to TTD Chairman BR Naidu, the stampede occurred when a gate was opened to assist an unwell woman. The crowd surged forward in a panic, causing widespread chaos. The lack of adequate crowd control measures contributed to the tragic outcome.

Tirupati Stampede: Lives Lost and Immediate Response

The stampede claimed the lives of six devotees and left over 40 injured. Tirupati Collector S Venkateswar stated that it took approximately 15 minutes to evacuate the crowd and regain control of the situation.

Tirupati Stampede: Nation Mourns the Tragedy

The incident has sent shockwaves across the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, saying his thoughts were with those who lost their loved ones. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi urged Congress workers to assist affected families during this difficult time.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also expressed his sorrow, describing the incident as deeply disturbing. In a heartfelt message shared on X, 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.”

Tirupati Stampede: A Call for Better Crowd Management

The Vaikuntha Ekadasi festival, a significant event in the Tirumala temple calendar, allows devotees to enter through the northern entrance of the temple to seek blessings from Lord Venkateswara. This year’s tragedy underscores the urgent need for improved crowd management measures to ensure the safety of pilgrims.

As the region mourns the loss of lives, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of preparedness and efficient planning during large-scale religious gatherings.