Devotees resort to pushing and jostling at the Ramachandra Pushkarini token issue counter in Tirupati on January 8, 2025.
| Photo Credit: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar
Six persons were killed and more than 20 critically injured in a stampede at Tirupati late on Wednesday evening (January 8, 2025) as people jostled for tickets for the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival at the Tirumala temple on Friday (January 10, 2025), the Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Trust Board, B.R. Naidu, said.
The TTD had set up around 90 counters at various locations in Tirupati and announced that tickets would be made available from 5 a.m. on Thursday (January 9, 2025). The announcement drew tens of thousands of people, eager to ensure their place for darshan.
However, the overwhelming crowd at the counters, including Vishnu Nivasam, Bairagipatteda, and Ramachandra Pushkarini, led to chaos as the arrangements were reportedly not adequate
The police had a tough time controlling the crowd.
The injured were rushed to the government-run Sri Venkateswara Ramnarain Ruia Hospital for treatment. Authorities have yet to confirm the identities of the deceased and the injured.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the incident and instructed the TTD and police officials to extend the best medical care. He called for strict action against the employees responsible for the incident.
Published – January 08, 2025 09:47 pm IST
