Six folks died in a stampede at Vishnu Niwasam at Tirupati throughout the distribution of tokens for Vaikuntha Dwara Sarvadarshanam – a particular ‘darshan’ for devotees for a interval of 10 days, beginning Friday.
A large rush of devotees trying to safe tokens resulted within the stampede. One of many devotees was from Tamil Nadu’s Salem. Sixteen folks have been injured throughout the incident and have been taken to the Ruia Hospital for therapy.
Visuals confirmed heavy police presence within the space and several other folks being shifted to ambulances. Witnesses stated as many as 60 folks fell on one another whereas accumulating tokens on the counter. The large rush led to the stampede. Some devotees alleged that there was negligence on the a part of the police.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Board chairperson, BR Naidu, dominated out any conspiracy and stated it was an accident. “I had suspected one thing may go mistaken and warned officers to not take it simple. There have been rumours unfold that not everybody could also be allowed in Tirumala,” Mr Reddy stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu have condoled the deaths.
“Pained by the stampede in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. My ideas are with those that have misplaced their close to and pricey ones. I pray that the injured get better quickly. The AP Authorities is offering all doable help to these affected,” the Prime Minister’s Workplace quoted him as saying.
“The demise of a number of devotees in a stampede close to Vishnu Niwasam in Tirupati for tokens to go to Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara has shocked me. This tragic incident, which came about at a time when devotees had gathered in massive numbers for tokens, deeply disturbed me,” Chief Minister Naidu stated.
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
“Within the wake of data that the situation of a few of them is crucial, I’ve directed greater officers to go to the spot and take aid measures… to supply higher medical therapy to the injured and save their lives. I’m speaking to the district and TTD officers every now and then and am taking inventory of the state of affairs,” he added. The chief minister will go to Tirupati tomorrow.
Many devotees have been on the temple to supply prayers and the cops and different folks have been current for crowd administration. Locals have alleged that ambulance drivers have been lacking, inflicting a delay in shifting the injured to the hospital.
The tokens have been to be distributed from tomorrow at 5 am and folks devotees had queued up for a similar.
A probe has been initiated to see if there was any police negligence throughout managing the group.
Andhra MLA and TDP Common Secretary, Nara Lokesh, stated, “I’m deeply saddened by the stampede that came about close to Vishnu Niwasam in Tirupati within the wake of the discharge of Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan tickets, during which 4 devotees died. TTD ought to make extra elaborate preparations to stop such unlucky incidents. The federal government stands by the households of the deceased devotees.”
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi stated the stampede was deeply saddening and prolonged condolences to the victims’ households.
“The demise of 6 devotees within the stampede on the ticket counters of Tirupati Vishnu Niwasam is extraordinarily tragic. I specific my deepest condolences to the members of the family of the deceased. Along with offering higher medical companies to the injured devotees, the federal government ought to help the members of the family of the deceased in each manner,” Congress’s YS Sharmila stated.
“The rationale for the stampede is the administration shortcomings within the governance system. A direct investigation ought to be performed into this incident,” she added.