Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has called a review meeting on Thursday after six people were killed in the Tirupati stampede on Wednesday evening, a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) spokesperson said. The incident occurred near Vishnu Niwasam at the Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara ticketing counter during the distribution of ‘darshan’ tokens.
CM Chandrababu Naidu is also expected to meet the families of the deceased later in the day.
TDP National Spokesperson Prem kumar Jain asserted that the state government is taking steps to prevent Tirupati stampede-like incidents.
Speaking to ANI, Kumar told, “The unfortunate incident in the Tirumala Tirupati Temple claimed the lives of 6 devotees and injured around 40. I pray to god to give peace to the departed souls. Measures are being taken to ensure such incidents do not happen again. CM Chandrababu Naidu has also called a review meeting. He will also visit the temple in a short while and take cognisance of the situation…”
He further said that people had gathered on the occasion of ‘Baikunth Ekadashi’ and “proper arrangements had been made to accommodate the rush.”
“Out of the six deceased, one woman is believed to be from Tamil Nadu and an ex-gratia will be provided to the kin of the deceased,” he said. “I want to reassure everyone that we will ensure such incidents will not happen again… “
“Our government will provide all the necessary assistance for treatment…,” Jain added.
CM Naidu Expresses Grief
Earlier, CM Chandrababu Naidu had expressed grief over the tragic incident. He wrote on X, “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.”
తిరుమల శ్రీవారి వైకుంఠ ద్వార దర్శనం టోకెన్ల కోసం తిరుపతిలోని విష్ణు నివాసం దగ్గర జరిగిన తోపులాటలో పలువురు భక్తులు మృతి చెందడం దిగ్భ్రాంతిని కలిగించింది. టోకెన్ల కోసం భక్తులు పెద్ద ఎత్తున తరలివచ్చిన సందర్భంలో చోటుచేసుకున్న ఈ విషాదకర ఘటన నన్ను తీవ్రంగా కలిచివేసింది. మరి కొందరి…
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) January 8, 2025
