Tirupati, January 9, 2025: On Vaikuntha Ekadashi yesterday, January 8, a tragic stampede at Tirumala Temple in Tirupati claimed six lives and injured several others during the distribution of darshan tokens. Devotees had started gathering as early as 10 a.m., but after enduring over 12 hours of waiting, overcrowding and mismanagement led to chaos. The incident highlighted serious lapses in crowd control and safety measures.
At Bairagipatteda near Ramanayudu School, devotees flocked to the area, expecting fewer crowds. By evening, the location became congested, forcing officials to move people to Sri Padmavati Park. Around 8:20 p.m., a sudden surge occurred when devotees were allowed into the queue lines, triggering the deadly stampede. Rescue operations began immediately, and the injured were taken to nearby hospitals, but the tragedy left families devastated.
Outrage has grown over insufficient arrangements at Bairagipatteda compared to other token centers. Despite instructions to install barricades, officials allegedly failed to act, assuming no danger. Devotees have criticized the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and police for their mismanagement, which led to preventable loss of lives and widespread anger.
