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Tirupti Stampede – Photo : Amar Ujala
The stampede that broke out two days before the start of Vaikuntha Ekadashi festival at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills in Andhra Pradesh has raised questions on the administration. A huge crowd gathered at over 90 ticket counters set up to provide tickets or tokens for the festival. Within no time there was a stampede and news of the death of six people came. Let us tell you that during this festival, devotees can worship Lord Venkateswara from the northern entrance of the temple.
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Tirupati – Photo : PTI
Arrangements were made to distribute 1,20,000 tokens
In fact, arrangements were made to distribute 1,20,000 tokens to devotees for ‘Sarva Darshan’ (free darshan) of Lord Venkateswara Swamy for the first three days of the annual darshan from January 10 to 12. Darshan tokens for the 10-day festival were to be given from 5 am on Thursday, but thousands of people gathered the night before at the counters set up by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which oversees the temple operations.
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Tirupati – Photo : ANI
4,000-5,000 people gathered at the counter
Officials said distribution arrangements were made at 94 counters in three pilgrim lodges, Vishnu Nivasam, Srinivasam and Bhudevi Complex, besides Satyanarayanapuram, Bairagipatteda and Ramanaidu School in Tirupati. Tirupati Municipal Commissioner N Morua said that the situation went out of control at the counter at MGM High School in Bairagipattada near Vishnu Nivasam temple. Around 4,000-5,000 people gathered at the counter since Wednesday morning. By evening the crowd went out of control and started pushing and shoving.
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Tirupati – Photo : PTI
‘When the gate was opened to help the woman, the crowd moved forward together’
According to TTD Chairman BR Naidu, when the gate was opened to help a woman who was feeling unwell, the crowd moved forward together and created chaos. Due to lack of adequate arrangements to control the crowd, a stampede broke out late on Wednesday evening, in which at least six devotees died and more than 40 were injured.
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Tirupati – Photo : PTI
PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi expressed grief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the incident. PM Modi said that his condolences are with those who have lost their loved ones. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi urged Congress workers to provide all possible assistance in this difficult time.