GG News Bureau
Tirumala Hills, 9th Jan. At least six devotees lost their lives and several others were injured in a stampede on Wednesday night at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills, officials confirmed. The incident occurred when hundreds of devotees jostled for tickets for the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, a key event at the temple that began on January 10.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman BR Naidu confirmed the deaths, adding that one of the victims has been identified. “The stampede occurred when a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) opened the gates, and the crowd rushed forward, causing chaos,” Naidu explained.
Devotees had gathered from across the country for the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, a popular event at the temple. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed his grief on social media, condemning the incident. “I am deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the temple. The CM will visit Tirupati on Thursday to comfort the injured,” Naidu said.
The TTD Chairman also expressed dissatisfaction with the temple’s management and suggested the incident might be linked to administrative lapses. He added that measures would be taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future. “We must learn from this tragic event,” Naidu stated.
Videos circulating on social media showed police administering CPR to injured devotees and transporting the wounded in ambulances. Bhanu Prakash, a TTD board member, offered his apologies to the devotees, acknowledging that though lives cannot be brought back, actions would be taken to prevent future incidents.
The CM has also announced that an ex-gratia will be declared on Thursday to assist the affected families.
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