Four Dead In Stampede During Ticket Sale For Darshan Tirupati Temple In Andhra Pradesh

The stampede occurred earlier this evening as hundreds of devotees jostled for tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills. 

A stampede took place near a ticket counter in Tirupati.

Source : Twitter/ Testbookdotcom

Four devotees, including three women, died and several others were injured in a stampede in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.

The stampede occurred earlier this evening as hundreds of devotees jostled for tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills. 

According to ABP Desam, a huge queue of devotees has formed at each center for these tickets. A scuffle broke out at Vishnu Niwasam as devotees exceeded the limit.

Hundreds of devotees had turned up from across the country for the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam commencing from January 10.  

Three women and a man died in the stampede, an official told news ageny PTI. Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said he was 'deeply disturbed' and urged officials to provide relief measures to the injured.

CM Chandrababu Naidu has reviewed the stampede situation with DGP, TTD EO, District Collector, SP. He also questioned why the officials could not make arrangements when it was known that devotees would come in large numbers, the Chief Minister's office said.

"The death of several devotees in a stampede near Vishnu Niwasam 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. In the wake of information that the condition of some of them is critical, I have directed higher officials to go to the spot and take relief measures and provide better medical treatment to the injured and save their lives. I am talking to the district and TTD officials from time to time and am taking stock of the situation," Chandrababu Naidu said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, videos of police administering CPR on a couple of woman devotees and injured persons being shifted in ambulances went viral.