2025-01-09 11:41 AM IST
A stampede near Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati on January 8 resulted in at least six people being killed and several others injured. The incident occurred during the distribution of Vaikunta Dwara Sarva Darshan tokens for the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, which begins on January 10. Hundreds of devotees were trying to get tickets when the situation became chaotic. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep shock over the deaths and instructed senior officials to go to the scene. He also directed that relief measures be taken and proper medical treatment be provided to the injured. Naidu planned to visit the SVR Ruia Government General Hospital and SVIMS Hospital, where the injured were being treated, between noon and 3 pm. Witnesses at the scene described a massive crowd of people struggling to find space, while police tried to manage the situation. The stampede occurred at around 8 pm when Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) began distributing tokens at various centers, including Vishnu Nivasam, Srinivasam, and Padmavati Park. The crowd grew uncontrollable when the gates were opened to allow an unwell devotee to exit the queue. This led to a rush, causing overcrowding and triggering stampedes at two locations. The TTD had announced that 1.2 lakh tokens for Vaikunthadwara Darshan on January 10 would be distributed across nine centers with 94 counters. However, the sudden surge of people overwhelmed the distribution process, leading to the tragic incident. Watch video for more.
