GUWAHATI: A tragic stampede near the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan ticketing center in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati claimed seven lives and left several others injured on the night of Wednesday, January 8, according to the media sources.
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The incident occurred amid a massive crowd of devotees attempting to obtain tokens for the 10-day Vaikuntha Ekadashi celebrations, which are scheduled from January 10 to 19.
The stampede took place at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) ticketing counters, which are central to the Vaikuntha Ekadashi and Vaikuntha Dwara Darshanam events. Devotees had gathered in large numbers to secure tokens for the highly sought-after Vaikuntha Dwaram darshan of Lord Venkateswara.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep concern over the tragedy and ordered immediate relief measures for the injured.
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
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident.
Pained by the stampede in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover soon. The AP Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 8, 2025
