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Stampede in Tirupati temple: 6 dead, more than 40 injured....

Harshad Dewangan 09 January 2025

So far six people have died and many others were injured in a stampede at the famous Tirupati temple of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday. The incident took place during the distribution of tokens for Vaikuntha Dwar Darshan of Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala. According to reports, the incident took place at Tirupati Vishnu Nivasam where tokens were being distributed. The dead include three women and a man. The

injured have been taken to Tirupati Ruya Hospital for treatment. This information has been given by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).

Chief Minister expressed deep grief over the death of devotees
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has expressed deep grief over the death of 6 devotees in the stampede near Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati for darshan tokens at Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwar. The Chief Minister also spoke to the officials over the phone about the treatment being given to the injured. He has ordered the higher officials to go to the spot and take relief measures so that the injured can get better treatment.

Tirumala Tirupati Temple Executive Officer Shyamala Rao said that in view of the seriousness of the incident, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is personally reaching Tirupati tomorrow.

Crowds of devotees had gathered for Vaikuntha Dwar Darshan tokens
. It is being said that some eight counters were opened in Tirupati to distribute Darshan tokens to devotees on the occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadashi. It was also said that it was decided to issue tokens from 5 am tomorrow, but devotees started queuing up from 6 pm to get tokens. Meanwhile, a massive stampede occurred at one or two centers due to unexpected devotees arriving for tokens, in which six devotees died.

Five women along with Malliga (50) of Salem were identified among the dead. The injured were taken to hospitals in Tirupati by ambulance. 20 people are being treated at Ruya Hospital and 9 at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SWIMS). District Collector Venkateswara Rao and Tirumala Tirupati Temple Executive Officer Shyamala Rao Ruya have reached the hospital and are monitoring the medical services.

Local police said this about the incident
Local police said that when an employee at the token issuing center fell ill, the doors of the center were opened to take him to the hospital. Meanwhile, the devotees gathered there thought that the queue line was opened for issuing tokens and they immediately ran. Eyewitnesses say that a stampede broke out during this time. Let us

tell you that 1.20 lakh tokens are to be issued on Thursday morning for the first three days of this month, 10th, 11th and 12th, for Vaikuntha Darshan. Regarding the remaining days, the Tirupati Tirumala administration said that it will be given at Vishnunivasam, Srinivasam and Bhudevi complexes in Tirupati on the respective dates. But now in this situation, due to the crowd of devotees, tokens are being issued from tonight.