A deadly stampede in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday evening claimed the lives of six pilgrims and left over 40 injured. Eyewitnesses and families of the victims have shared harrowing accounts of the chaos that unfolded, highlighting the confusion and panic that contributed to the tragedy.
One witness, who was with her family of 20, described how the stampede occurred when police opened the gates near the Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara ticketing counter to begin token distribution. “As soon as the gates were opened, the pilgrims rushed to secure their tokens,” she recalled. “There was no organized system for token distribution earlier, which led to a chaotic situation. Six of my family members were injured, and several women were caught in the crush.” The injured were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals.
The tragedy claimed the life of Mallika, whose husband recounted how she became trapped in the stampede while attempting to secure tickets for the Vaikunta Dwara Darshan. “My wife and others were trying to get tickets when the stampede occurred. It was a devastating moment,” he shared.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) confirmed the death toll, stating that six pilgrims had lost their lives, though only one has been identified. Authorities are actively monitoring the situation. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed his concern over the poor management of the incident and pledged to meet with the victims’ families. He has also vowed to ensure such incidents do not happen again.
The Chief Minister is scheduled to visit the families of the deceased later today to offer his condolences and support.
