Tirupati stampede: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will visit Tirupati today after the death of six devotees in a stampede last evening during the distribution of tokens for the Vaikuntha Ekadasi festival. Temple trust officials said that the gate at one of the token counters was opened for a woman who was feeling unwell, which led to chaos and resulted in a stampede. Tirupati Collector S Venkateswar told NDTV that it took around 15 minutes to evacuate the devotees.

Here are the updates on Tirupati stampede:

Tirupati:

Sharing their account of tragic stampede in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati, eyewitnesses have recalled the horrific incident that killed at least six people. 

A woman who went to Tirupati with 20 of her family members said, “As soon as the Police officials opened the gate, the pilgrims rushed to purchase tokens. There was no such system for obtaining tokens earlier.”

While speaking to the reporters, she said, “A stampede occurred due to the heavy rush. Out of twenty members of my family, six have been injured. We joined the queue at 11 o’clock. While waiting in the queue, we were provided with milk and biscuits. However, a large number of male pilgrims rushed for tokens, causing injuries to several women, who were then shifted to the hospital.”

The husband of one of the woman who died in the stamped, shared his tragic account, stating that the stampede occurred when his wife and others were attempting to obtain Vaikunta Dwara Darshan tickets, which led to her death.

He said, “While my wife and others were trying to obtain Vaikunta Dwara Darshan tickets, a stampede occurred, resulting in her death. I have informed our relatives and they are on their way…”

Six people died and many were injured after a stampede broke out near Vishnu Nivasam in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati on Wednesday evening, according to officials from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

The incident occurred near Vishnu Niwasam close to the Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara ticketing counter, during the distribution of ‘darshan’ tokens.

As per the statement from the office of TTD Chairman BR Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is closely monitoring the incident and will meet the families of the victims of the stampede today.

“It is an unfortunate event, 6 pilgrims lost their lives. So far, only one pilgrim has been identified, while the others are yet to be identified. N Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is very serious about the incident and has expressed dissatisfaction with the officials’ management during a teleconference. The Chief Minister will visit the families of the deceased tomorrow at 11:45 am. CM has warned that such incidents should not be repeated and is closely monitoring updates on the issue”, the statement said.

Six people died in a stampede at Vishnu Niwasam at Tirupati during the distribution of tokens for Vaikuntha Dwara Sarvadarshanam – a special ‘darshan’ for devotees for a period of 10 days, starting Friday.

A massive rush of devotees attempting to secure tokens resulted in the stampede. One of the devotees was from Tamil Nadu’s Salem. Sixteen people were injured during the incident and were taken to the Ruia Hospital for treatment.

Visuals showed heavy police presence in the area and several people being shifted to ambulances. Witnesses said as many as 60 people fell on each other while collecting tokens at the counter. The massive rush led to the stampede. Some devotees alleged that there was negligence on the part of the police.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Board chairperson, BR Naidu, ruled out any conspiracy and said it was an accident. “I had suspected something could go wrong and warned officials not to take it easy. There were rumours spread that not everyone may be allowed in Tirumala,” Mr Reddy said.

“The death of several devotees in a stampede near Vishnu Niwasam in Tirupati for tokens to visit Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara has shocked me. This tragic incident, which took place at a time when devotees had gathered in large numbers for tokens, deeply disturbed me,” Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said.

తిరుమల శ్రీవారి వైకుంఠ ద్వార దర్శనం టోకెన్ల కోసం తిరుపతిలోని విష్ణు నివాసం దగ్గర జరిగిన తోపులాటలో పలువురు భక్తులు మృతి చెందడం దిగ్భ్రాంతిని కలిగించింది. టోకెన్ల కోసం భక్తులు పెద్ద ఎత్తున తరలివచ్చిన సందర్భంలో చోటుచేసుకున్న ఈ విషాదకర ఘటన నన్ను తీవ్రంగా కలిచివేసింది. మరి కొందరి…

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) January 8, 2025

“In the wake of information that the condition of some of them is critical, I have directed higher officials to go to the spot and take relief measures… to provide better medical treatment to the injured and save their lives. I am talking to the district and TTD officials from time to time and am taking stock of the situation,” he added. The chief minister will visit Tirupati tomorrow.

Many devotees were at the temple to offer prayers and the cops and other people were present for crowd management. Locals have alleged that ambulance drivers were missing, causing a delay in shifting the injured to the hospital.

The tokens were to be distributed from tomorrow at 5 am and people devotees had queued up for the same.

A probe has been initiated to see if there was any police negligence during managing the crowd.

Andhra MLA and TDP General Secretary, Nara Lokesh, said, “I am deeply saddened by the stampede that took place near Vishnu Niwasam in Tirupati in the wake of the release of Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan tickets, in which four devotees died. TTD should make more elaborate arrangements to prevent such unfortunate incidents. The government stands by the families of the deceased devotees.”

“The death of 6 devotees in the stampede at the ticket counters of Tirupati Vishnu Niwasam is extremely tragic. I express my deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased. In addition to providing better medical services to the injured devotees, the government should support the family members of the deceased in every way,” Congress’s YS Sharmila said.

“The reason for the stampede is the management shortcomings in the governance system. An immediate investigation should be conducted into this incident,” she added.