Tragic Stampede Claims Lives of Six Devotees in Tirupati
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Tirupati, Jan 9 (NationPress) In a tragic event, six devotees, comprising five women, lost their lives and 29 others sustained injuries due to stampedes that occurred at three different locations while darshan tickets for the Tirumala temple were being sold on Wednesday evening.
The chaos unfolded at three sites designated for issuing Vaikunta Dwara Darshan tickets starting Thursday morning.
A significant number of devotees had congregated, eager to obtain special darshan tickets, which ultimately led to the stampede. Among those who perished, five were women.
As many as 29 devotees were reported injured and were promptly transported to Ruia and SVIMS hospitals.
Authorities are concerned that the death toll may increase. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which oversees the management of the renowned Tirumala temple, had declared that special darshan tickets would be made available at 94 counters across nine sites in Tirupati starting at 5 a.m. on Thursday.
Nevertheless, a large number of devotees began gathering from Wednesday evening.
When the counters opened, chaos ensued as devotees pushed one another in an attempt to move forward, resulting in the stampede.
Officials reported that the stampede occurred at Srinivasam, Bairagipatteda, and Satyanarayanapuram.
Police and TTD officials swiftly arrived at the scene to initiate rescue and relief operations. The TTD was set to issue 1.20 lakh tokens on Thursday morning for Vaikunta Dwara Darshan on January 10, 11, and 12.
Tirupati district Collector Venkateshwar and TTD Executive Officer Shyamala Rao rushed to Ruia Hospital. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed their shock over the incident.
The Chief Minister conveyed his sorrow regarding the situation through a statement. He communicated with officials by phone and instructed them to ensure the best possible care for the injured.
He also directed senior officials to visit the site and oversee relief efforts.
The Chief Minister maintained communication with district officials and TTD authorities to monitor the ongoing situation.
Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also expressed his condolences over the tragic deaths.
