A stampede near the Vishnu Niwasam ticketing counter at Andhra Pradesh’s revered Tirupati Temple on Wednesday resulted in the tragic loss of six lives and left 40 devotees injured. The chaos erupted during the distribution of darshan tokens for the Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara, a high-demand ritual at the temple.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of panic as a sudden rush among devotees spiraled out of control. According to officials from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the stampede’s casualties include women and children, with the injured being rushed to local hospitals for treatment.
TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu issued a statement expressing deep condolences to the victims’ families, describing the incident as “unfortunate and avoidable.” He confirmed that one of the deceased has been identified, while efforts are ongoing to identify the others.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, visibly distressed by the tragedy, held a teleconference with officials and expressed dissatisfaction with the crowd management. He vowed swift corrective measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The Chief Minister is scheduled to visit the families of the deceased on Thursday at 11:45 a.m.
“The Chief Minister has taken this incident very seriously. He has warned authorities to ensure such failures are not repeated and is personally monitoring developments,” read a statement from Naidu’s office.
An eyewitness detailed the harrowing experience, saying, “The heavy rush during token distribution led to the stampede. When the gates opened, people surged forward. Out of my 20 family members, six were injured. Women and children were also hurt and taken to the hospital.”
The eyewitness also noted lapses in crowd control and mentioned that the pilgrims had been waiting since 11 a.m., with milk and biscuits provided during the long wait. However, the unexpected rush by male devotees caused a breakdown in order, resulting in injuries and fatalities.
The incident has raised serious concerns about crowd management and safety measures at one of India’s most visited religious sites.
