Rama Krishna Sangem
The stampede that killed six persons and injured over 40 others could have been averted if the authorities made adequate plans for the rush. Everyone knows that Tirumala temple draws huge crowds on Vaikunta Ekadasi. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Trust (TTD) board that always boasts of the devotees rush and hundi collections should have paid more attention to avoid stampedes on such occasions. But, 2025 began with a sad note, which is just a man-made mishap.
A stampede in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday evening, left at least six devotees dead and many injured, as thousands gathered to secure tickets for a sacred event at the revered Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills. Going by the
How it happened?
The chaos unfolded near the Vishnu Nivasam temple in Tirupati, where the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) had set up counters to distribute tokens for the annual Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, a highly anticipated festival that begins on January 10. The 10-day event, allowing devotees a special darshan of the deity through the northern entrance, draws pilgrims from across the country.
By Wednesday morning, thousands had lined up at designated counters, including one at MGM High School in Bairagipatteda. As the day progressed, the crowd swelled and jostling intensified. According to government officials, the stampede occurred when a gate was opened to assist a distressed woman. The crowd surged forward, leading to chaos and fatalities, reported The Hindustan Times.
Crowd surge and token distribution
The TTD had arranged for the distribution of 120,000 tokens for the first three days of the festival (January 10–12). These tokens were meant for ‘sarva darshan’, a free opportunity to worship Lord Venkateswara. Special counters had been set up at 94 locations, including Vishnu Nivasam, Srinivasam, Bhudevi complexes, and other sites in Tirupati.
Despite meticulous planning, the overwhelming number of devotees created a ‘stampede-like situation’, particularly at Srinivasam, where crowds surged toward the counters. An official also told The Hindustan Times that the scale of the gathering exceeded expectations, making it difficult to manage the flow of devotees.
Govt’s response to the tragedy
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed his deep sorrow over the incident, calling it a shocking and tragic event. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), he said, “The death of several devotees in a stampede near Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati for tokens to visit Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara has shocked me. This tragic incident, which took place at a time when devotees had gathered in large numbers for tokens, deeply disturbed me.”
