Tirupati Temple Stampede: 5 killed during ‘Vaikunta Dwar Darshan’ token distribution

Five people have been killed in an stampede at Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati temple late Wednesday evening, January 8. The chaos erupted near the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan ticketing center, where a massive crowd had gathered to secure tokens for the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, set to begin on January 10.

According to officials, the stampede resulted in the deaths of three women and one man. “Three women and a man died in the stampede,” an official confirmed to PTI.

Eyewitnesses reported that the situation spiraled out of control as hundreds of devotees, who had traveled from various parts of the country, rushed to collect tickets. The sheer volume of people overwhelmed the ticketing center, leading to the unfortunate incident.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has taken note of the incident and is closely monitoring the situation.

“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… to 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,” Naidu said in an X post.

The Chief Minister has directed senior officials to visit the site immediately and oversee relief measures to ensure that the injured receive proper medical care, according to a statement from the CMO.

Further details on the incident and any ongoing rescue or relief operations are awaited.