Rahul Gandhi Expresses Sympathy for Victims of Tirupati Stampede
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New Delhi, Jan 8 (NationPress) Congress MP and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday expressed his sorrow over the loss of devotees who tragically died in a stampede at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.
In a statement on X, the Congress leader remarked, “The unfortunate stampede in Tirupati is profoundly distressing. My deepest sympathies go out to the grieving families. I hope for a quick recovery for all those hurt.”
He also encouraged Congress leaders and members to extend all possible support during this challenging period.
Four devotees lost their lives and several others sustained injuries in the stampede that occurred at multiple locations during the distribution of Tirumala temple darshan tickets on Wednesday night.
The event unfolded at three sites where Vaikunta Dwara Darshan tickets were set to be issued the following morning.
A significant crowd of devotees had assembled to queue for special darshan tickets, which led to the stampede.
Among the four deceased were three women; one of the women hailed from Tamil Nadu.
Several individuals lost consciousness and were transported to Ruia Hospital for treatment.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), responsible for managing the renowned Tirumala temple, announced that special darshan tickets would be available at 94 counters across nine locations in Tirupati starting at 5 a.m. on Thursday.
However, a large number of devotees began to gather as early as Wednesday morning. Chaos ensued when devotees were allowed at the counters, leading to a surge and ultimately causing the stampede.
Officials reported that the stampede occurred at Srinivasam, Bairagipatteda, and Satyanarayanapuram.
Police and TTD officials quickly arrived on the scene to initiate rescue and relief efforts.
The TTD was preparing to issue 1.20 lakh tokens on Thursday morning for Vaikunta Dwara Darshan scheduled for January 10, 11, and 12.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his shock regarding the deaths of the four devotees in the stampede.
In his statement, he conveyed his sorrow over the incident. The Chief Minister communicated with officials via phone, instructing them to guarantee the best care for the injured.
He requested senior officials to visit the site and oversee relief operations. He maintained communication with district officials and TTD authorities to keep track of the situation.
President of YSR Congress Party and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also voiced his shock regarding the demise of the four devotees in the stampede.
