VISAKHAPATNAM/VIJAYAWADA: Chaos erupted in Andhra Pradesh’s temple town of Tirupati on Wednesday evening as a stampede claimed six lives and left over 30 injured, some critically, during the issuance of Vaikunthadwara Sarvadarshan tokens.
The incident unfolded around 8 pm when Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials began distributing tokens at various centres, including Vishnu Nivasam, Srinivasam and Padmavati Park. The situation spiraled out of control when overcrowding escalated as gates were opened to assist an unwell devotee out of the queue.
Devotees, many of whom had waited in line since morning, surged forward in large numbers, triggering severe congestion. Lacking effective crowd management, the rush resulted in stampedes at two locations.
TTD had announced the distribution of 1.2 lakh tokens for Vaikunthadwara darshan scheduled on January 10 (Ekadasi). The tokens were to be issued at nine centres via 94 counters, but the sudden surge overwhelmed the process.
Among the deceased was Mallika, a devotee from Salem, Tamil Nadu, who succumbed to her injuries en route to Ruia Hospital. Three others died while receiving treatment at Ruia, while two more passed away at SVIMS. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as several injured remain in critical condition.
Police and vigilance teams were deployed to control the chaos. TTD later clarified that tokens for subsequent days would be distributed at Vishnu Nivasam, Srinivasa, and Bhudevi complexes in Tirupati.
CM expresses deep shock over deaths
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed profound sorrow over the tragic stampede in Tirupati, which claimed six lives. “The incident, caused by a massive crowd surge during token distribution, is deeply disturbing,” he said.
Naidu assured that he is in constant contact with district and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials, monitoring the situation.
“I have instructed senior officials to visit the site, oversee relief efforts, and ensure the injured receive top-notch medical care,” Naidu added.
Eyewitnesses blamed poor crowd control for the disaster. “This tragedy could have been avoided if the post-Covid token system had been followed,” said a devotee at Padmavathi Park holding area. Another survivor alleged that barely four police personnel were present when the gates opened, leading to chaos as thousands who had waited for hours surged forward.
The TTD, which oversees the iconic Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala, is among the wealthiest religious institutions worldwide. It generates significant revenue through offerings, darshan tickets, donations, and services. In 2024 alone, over 2.55 crore pilgrims visited the temple, contributing Rs 1,365 crore to its Hundi collections.
The Vaikunthadwara Darshan is a highly revered event, coinciding with the Vaikuntha Ekadashi festival. Devotees believe this darshan offers a glimpse of the divine gates of heaven (Vaikuntha). The festival attracts millions, with attendance peaking at 2–3 lakh on key days. Despite its spiritual significance, the incident highlights the urgent need for better crowd management during such large-scale events.
