Tirupati Tragedy: 6 Dead in Stampede, CM and Health Minister to Visit
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Additional Executive Officer, Venkayya Chowdary, visited the Sri Venkateswara Ramnarayan Ruia Government General Hospital in Tirupati early Thursday morning to meet with those injured in the tragic stampede that occurred in Andhra Pradesh the previous day. The incident cost at least six lives. Chowdary is seen to have interacted with the patients and doctors during the visit.
Describing it as "overcrowding," TTD Chairman BR Naidu, also referred to the incident as "abominable." "We had opened 91 counters for issuing tokens for 'Ekadasi Darshan,' yet such a stampede has set in. Six devotees are dead; 40 others are injured. We are extending the best of medical care to them. This is an unprecedented incident in TTD history, for which I am very sorry to devotees. We will conduct an inquiry and take all necessary actions. Tomorrow (January 9), the Chief Minister and state Health Minister are to visit Tirupati."
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu, who expressed his condolences over the loss of lives, is expected to meet the families of the deceased later on Tuesday.
The stampede occurred near Vishnu Niwasam, close to the Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara ticketing counter, during the distribution of 'darshan' tokens. Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic loss and affirmed that the state government is providing all necessary assistance to the victims.
Vaikunta Dwara Darshan, which allows devotees to pass through the sacred gate to receive blessings from Lord Venkateswara, is scheduled to take place at the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple from January 10 to 19. The TTD announced that offline tokens for darshan would be issued starting today, with nine token distribution centers set up in Tirupati.
Since Wednesday morning, devotees from across the country had been arriving in large numbers to collect tokens. By the end of the day, the distribution centers experienced heavy crowds, leading to significant congestion.