Hundreds of devotees had gathered at the temple, eagerly waiting to collect tokens for the special darshan event. The chaos unfolded when large crowds were pushing to secure their tokens for the auspicious Vaikuntha Dwar Darshanam. The sudden rush to get ahead resulted in a stampede, leaving several casualties in its wake.
The incident is raising serious questions about crowd control at the temple, especially considering the importance of the Vaikuntha Dwar Darshanam, which draws devotees from all over the country. Local authorities told News18 that the stampede began at the MCM School counter, where token distribution had not yet started. A sudden opening of gates by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) is believed to have triggered the disaster, causing a rush as people rushed forward in their desperation.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is scheduled to visit Tirupati on Thursday (January 9) to meet with the injured and offer support.
The scene at the temple
Videos of the incident that surfaced on social media showed police officers struggling to control the surging crowd, with people seen jostling and pushing in the confusion. The atmosphere was tense, as the large number of devotees scrambled to secure a token for the Vaikuntha Dwar Darshanam. The token distribution process, which had been set to begin on January 9, was delayed due to the stampede.
Reports suggest that around 4,000 devotees had gathered for tokens, with the queue forming as early as January 8. Despite the presence of multiple distribution counters across the temple premises, the overwhelming crowd led to the tragic incident, leaving six dead, including one woman whose body has been identified.
Ongoing Vaikuntha Dwar Darshanam event
The Vaikuntha Dwar Darshanam, an annual event of great religious significance, is expected to run until January 19-20. Thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the country have arrived in Tirupati to take part in this rare opportunity for darshan. Authorities are now under scrutiny for the safety measures in place, as this tragic incident has raised concerns about the management of such large gatherings.
