By The Andhra Pradesh government has announced a ₹25 lakh ex-gratia for the families of devotees who tragically lost their lives in the stampede near the Vishnu Nivasam temple in Tirupati. The incident occurred during the distribution of ‘darshan’ tokens at the ticketing counter close to Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara.
Tirupati Stampede LIVE Updates: Key Details and Reactions:
FIR Registered; CM to Visit Victims
Two FIRs have been registered regarding the incident, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is set to meet the victims on Thursday.
Officials’ Response and Hospital Visit
TTD Additional Executive Officer Venkayya Chowdary visited the Sri Venkateswara Ramnarayan Ruia Government General Hospital in Tirupati early Thursday to check on the injured. Six lives were lost in the tragic event.
Cause of the Stampede
TTD Chairman BR Naidu cited overcrowding as the primary reason for the stampede, which unfolded as people rushed to collect darshan tokens. “It is an unfortunate incident. A complete report will be provided soon,” he stated. The deceased included individuals from both Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, with one body identified so far.
Eyewitness Accounts and Appeals for Action
An eyewitness, D. Venkata Lakshmi, recounted the horrifying moments during the stampede, saying, “For five minutes, we thought all of us were dead. I’ve been visiting the temple for 25 years, and such an incident has never occurred.”
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah urged the government to take measures to prevent such tragic events, particularly at religious sites and during festivals.
Summary
This devastating incident highlights the urgent need for better crowd management at religious sites. Authorities are expected to release a detailed report soon, with the state government and temple officials under pressure to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Revenue Minister Anagani Expresses Remorse
Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad expressed deep sorrow over the stampede incident in Tirupati. He assured government support for the families of the victims, announcing ₹25 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased.
“We cannot replace life with anything, but we will support the families,” he said while addressing the media.
Chief Minister Visits the Site
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu visited the stampede site in Tirupati on Thursday to assess the situation. In a statement shared on X, he said, “The death of several devotees in a stampede near Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati for tokens to visit Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara has deeply shocked me. I am in constant touch with district and TTD officials to monitor the situation.”
The first complaint was filed by P Srinivasulu, a Tahsildar from Balaiahpalli Mandal. According to him, R Malliga fainted amidst a rush of devotees. He was declared dead when he was rushed to the hospital.
The second FIR, lodged by M. Jayaramulu, 61, a Tahsildar from Narayanavanam Mandal, reported the deaths of five more devotees. The victims included Smt. Kandipilli Santhi (35) from Visakhapatnam, Guddla Rajini (45), Boddeti Naidu Babu (55), Suri Setty Lavanya Swathi (37), and Nirmala from Tamil Nadu.
Eyewitnesses Recount Harrowing Experience
A witness, D. Venkata Lakshmi, shared her ordeal, saying, “For five minutes, we thought all of us were dead. I have been visiting the temple for 25 years, and such an incident has never happened before.”
Another victim explained the sequence of events, saying, “A stampede occurred due to a heavy rush when police opened the gates. Pilgrims rushed to obtain tokens. Earlier, there was no such system for tokens. Out of 20 family members, six were injured. Despite being provided milk and biscuits while waiting in line, the chaos injured several women, who were later taken to the hospital.”
Criticism of Crowd Management
Former TTD Chairman Bhuma Karunakar Reddy criticized the Andhra Pradesh government for lapses in crowd management, stating that arrangements should have been made in anticipation of the festive season influx.
Situation Under Control
Tirupati Collector S. Venkateswar announced that the situation was brought under control by 9:30 PM on Wednesday. He confirmed that ticket distribution was completed by 1 AM on Thursday, with additional police forces deployed for crowd management.
Government Actions and Condolences
- Ex-gratia Announcement: Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad announced ₹25 lakh as compensation for each victim’s family.
- CM’s Review Meeting: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu called for a review meeting and assured regular updates on the situation.
- TN CM’s Condolence: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed his grief over the incident and extended condolences to the victims’ families.
Investigation and Response
TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu attributed the incident to overcrowding. “It’s an unfortunate incident. A complete report will be available tomorrow. Of the six deceased, some hailed from Tamil Nadu and others from Andhra Pradesh.”
Do follow the instagram.
