A Stampede at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Claims Six Lives
A stampede occurred at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam while devotees were purchasing tickets for the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan, tragically resulting in the deaths of six individuals. Eyewitnesses reported that a massive crowd surged forward as soon as the ticket counters opened, leading to injuries, particularly among women.
Tirupati Stampede: Six Dead, Several Injured
Six people lost their lives and several others were injured in a stampede that broke out at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, during the ticket purchase process for the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene, where the sheer volume of the crowd, coupled with a lack of pre-arranged procedures, caused a surge as the police opened the ticket distribution area. The resulting stampede caused serious injuries, forcing many women devotees to be taken to hospitals for treatment.
Eyewitness Accounts
Following the incident, a woman recounted her experience, stating that she was there with 20 members of her family, six of whom were injured. "While we were queuing, we were offered milk and biscuits," she said. "However, the sudden rush of men to purchase tokens caused many women to fall and get injured. The situation spiraled out of control as soon as the police opened the ticket window."
Family of Deceased Woman Speaks Out
The husband of the deceased woman, Mallika, described the horrifying scene. He stated that the stampede occurred while his wife and other devotees were attempting to purchase tickets for the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan.
"My wife and others were trying to buy tickets when the stampede broke out," he said, "and my wife was killed in the incident."
Stampede at the Main Venue
According to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam officials, the incident took place near Vishnu Niwasam in Tirupati. As the ticket distribution began, a surge in the crowd led to jostling and pushing, resulting in the stampede. Six devotees died and several others were injured in the incident. Post-incident, the police and administration attempted to control the situation, but considerable damage had already been inflicted.
Chief Minister Expresses Condolences
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed his sorrow over the incident and announced his intention to visit the families of the victims on Thursday morning. A statement issued by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam chairman's office stated, "This is a deeply distressing incident, claiming the lives of six devotees. One victim's identity has been established thus far." The Chief Minister expressed his dissatisfaction with the handling of the situation by officials and directed them to take corrective actions.
Administrative Negligence?
Eyewitnesses allege that a lack of proper pre-arranged ticket purchase systems contributed to the tragedy. The sudden opening of the ticket window without adequate crowd management protocols caused the surging crowd to become chaotic, resulting in the stampede. The absence of appropriate administrative measures clearly led to the disaster, raising questions of accountability for the authorities.
