A tragic stampede in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati on Wednesday evening claimed the lives of at least six people and left dozens injured. The incident occurred as hundreds of devotees crowded ticket counters to secure passes for a major religious event.

What happened in Tirupati?

Devotees from across the country gathered at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala Hills early Wednesday. They were eager to obtain tokens for the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, a sacred event that coincides with the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival. Tokens were being distributed at multiple locations, including MGM High School in Bairagipatteda, near the Vishnu Nivasam temple.

By the evening, the crowd became uncontrollable. The jostling and overcrowding led to a stampede, resulting in the deaths of six people, including three women. Over 40 others sustained injuries, with many of the injured hailing from Tamil Nadu. They were rushed to Ruia Hospital for treatment.

How did the stampede Happen?

Witnesses reported that around 4,000 to 5,000 people gathered at the counters on Wednesday morning. The situation escalated when the crowd surged forward, leading to a chaotic scene. According to the TTD Chairman, BR Naidu, the stampede began after a gate was opened to assist an unwell woman, which prompted the crowd to push forward.

Was overcrowding the only issue?

Overcrowding was a major factor, but there were also concerns about inadequate crowd management. Many devotees criticized the police for negligence, and locals pointed out that the absence of ambulance drivers delayed the transportation of the injured to hospitals.

A woman who attended with her family described the chaotic scene: “As soon as the police opened the gate, everyone rushed to get tokens. There was no proper system, and in the rush, six of my family members were injured."

What are officials saying?

TTD board member Bhanu Prakash issued an apology, calling the incident "unfortunate" and seeking forgiveness from devotees. He acknowledged lapses in crowd management despite strict measures being in place. The TTD board has called an emergency meeting to address the situation and ensure the safety of devotees in the future.

How is the government responding?

The Andhra Pradesh government has launched an inquiry into the incident. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed his sorrow over the loss of life and announced ex-gratia for the families of the deceased. He plans to visit Tirumala to assess the situation and provide relief to the affected families.

Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan, along with other leaders, expressed condolences and emphasized the need for better crowd control measures. The Prime Minister’s Office also conveyed deep sorrow, with PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah sending condolences and wishing for the speedy recovery of the injured.

With a high influx of devotees expected for the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival, authorities are under pressure to improve crowd management to prevent such tragedies from recurring.