Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, witnessed enormous turmoil and bustle as over 4,000 devotees waited up to receive tokens for a special darshan at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple. A stampede caused by overpopulation and a “lapse in administration” claimed the lives of at least six persons.
Thousands of devotees from all across the country gathered on Wednesday night for the 10-day special Vaikuntha Dwara Darshanam, which will begin Friday.
According to reports, a woman devotee named Mallika, one of six victims, became unwell while waiting in line at one of the token booths in Bairagi Pattida Park. The gates were opened to transport her to the hospital.
The crowd, however, took advantage of this and rushed in, resulting in a stampede.
Bhanu Prakash Reddy, a board member of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), told reporters following the event that 91 counters had been opened for token distribution, which was scheduled to begin Thursday morning.
“Six devotees died in the stampede, 40 were injured, and we are providing the best medical services available. This has never occurred in TTD history. I truly ask for an apology from the devotees. We will conduct an investigation and take appropriate action,” he added, noting that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and the state Health Minister were expected to visit Tirupati today.
Videos circulating on social media showed police officers controlling the crowd as people pushed one other during the chaos. Other films showed cops administering CPR to injured devotees following a stampede.
TTD chairman BR Naidu blamed the event on mismanagement.
“We feel this was due to a failure in administration. The DSP opened the gate in one sector, and the others fled. A single victim has been recognized. Chief Minister Naidu would meet with the victims’ families today, he added.
Meanwhile, Chandrababu Naidu said the event “deeply disturbed” him because it “took place at a time when devotees had gathered in large numbers for tokens”.
“I have directed higher-level officials to go to the scene and take relief measures… to provide better medical care to the injured and save their lives.” I’m communicating with district and TTD authorities on a regular basis and taking stock of the situation,” he wrote on Twitter.
A day before the stampede, the TTD announced that only devotees with darshan tokens or tickets would be permitted to enter the queues at the specified times.
Executive Officer (EO) J Syamala Rao made the declaration, citing Tirumala’s limited lodging options.
To prepare for large crowds, temple authorities have deployed over 3,000 police troops in Tirupati and Tirumala, including 1,200 in Tirupati and 1,800 in Tirumala.
