From Chaos To Tragedy: What Led To Tirupati Stampede That Killed 6

A tragic stampede claimed six lives and injured over 40 at Tirupati on Wednesday evening as devotees rushed to collect tokens for the special Vaikuntha Dwar Darshanam. Thousands had gathered at various counters set up by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for the event, leading to overcrowding and chaos.

Videos circulating on social media showed police officers struggling to manage the unruly crowd, as devotees jostled to secure their tokens. The distribution process, scheduled to begin on January 9, was delayed, further exacerbating the situation.

What Led To The Tirupati Stampede

The TTD had planned to distribute 1,20,000 tokens for free darshan between January 10 and 12 at 94 counters located across several venues, including Vishnu Nivasam, Srinivasam, and Bhudevi complexes, as well as other areas like Bairagipatteda and Ramanaidu School. However, the situation spiraled out of control at the MGM High School counter near Vishnu Nivasam, where 4,000-5,000 devotees had assembled since morning, according to a report in NDTV.

According to officials, the stampede began when a gate was opened to assist an unwell woman, causing the crowd to surge forward. Tirupati Municipal Commissioner N. Moruya confirmed that mismanagement and the lack of adequate crowd control measures contributed to the tragic incident.

Rescue operations were conducted swiftly, and the injured were taken to local hospitals. Prof. Kumar, Director of SVIMS-Sri Padmavathi Medical College, stated that 19 individuals were receiving treatment, with many expected to be discharged by the evening.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has scheduled a review meeting and will visit Tirupati to meet with the families of the deceased. The incident has raised serious concerns about safety protocols during large-scale events.

Meanwhile, an eyewitness has recounted the incident during her interaction with news agency ANI. She said that the pilgrims rushed to purchase token as soon as the cops opened the gate and this system of collecting tickets did not exist earlier.

She added, "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."