Six Dead In Tirupati Stampede Amid Rush For Vaikuntha Darshan Tickets; Investigation Underway
Tirupati, 9th January 2025: A tragic stampede claimed six lives near the Vishnu Nivasam area in Tirupati as devotees scrambled to obtain tickets for the Vaikuntha Dwar Darshan. The incident left several others injured, including women, as chaos erupted when the doors to the ticket counter were opened.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the event. A woman present at the scene described how a massive crowd had gathered without any arrangements for advance ticket distribution. “As soon as the policemen opened the doors, the crowd surged forward, creating a stampede,” she said. Among her 20 family members present, six were injured in the melee.
Male devotees reportedly rushed aggressively for tickets, leading to injuries among female devotees. Many of the injured are currently receiving treatment.
The husband of one of the deceased, Mallika, recounted the horrific moments. He explained that his wife and others were attempting to secure tickets when the stampede broke out. Tragically, Mallika lost her life in the chaos.
Officials from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) confirmed the deaths of six devotees near the ticket counter. The incident unfolded as crowds swarmed the area, jostling to purchase tickets.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has expressed deep concern over the tragedy. According to a statement from the TTD chairman’s office, Naidu is closely monitoring the situation and plans to meet the victims’ families. “Six devotees have lost their lives, and only one has been identified so far. The Chief Minister is very serious about the incident and has expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the situation by officials,” the statement said.
Authorities are investigating the lack of proper crowd management that led to this avoidable tragedy.
