“Distribution of Vaikuntha Ekadasi darshan tokens leads to stampede, highlighting crowd management lapses at Tirupati temple.”
January 9, 2025: New Delhi: The Vaikuntha Ekadasi festival at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirumala Hills began with a tragic incident as a stampede claimed the lives of six devotees and left over 40 injured. The chaos erupted during the distribution of free “sarva darshan” tokens for the festival.
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Preparations had been made to distribute 1,20,000 tokens to devotees at 94 counters across Tirupati, including Vishnu Nivasam, Srinivasam, Bhudevi complexes, and other locations such as Satyanarayanapuram and Bairagipatteda. Despite the distribution being scheduled to begin at 5 am on Thursday, thousands gathered the night before, leading to overcrowding.
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What Sparked the Tragedy?
Tirupati Municipal Commissioner N Moruya said the situation spiraled out of control at the counter set up at MGM High School near Vishnu Nivasam. Over 4,000-5,000 people gathered at this location alone by Wednesday evening. The crowd turned unruly, with pushing and jostling reported.
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TTD Chairman BR Naidu explained that the chaos began when a gate was opened to assist an unwell woman. This caused a sudden surge in the crowd, leading to a stampede. Tirupati Collector S Venkateswar stated that it took around 15 minutes to evacuate the area and control the situation.
Condolences and Reactions
The tragic incident drew condolences from leaders across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow, stating that his thoughts were with the bereaved families. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi urged Congress workers to assist those affected. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu called the incident deeply disturbing, adding, “The death of several devotees in a stampede near Vishnu Niwasam in Tirupati for tokens to visit Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara has shocked me.”
Festival Background
The Vaikuntha Ekadasi festival allows devotees to pray to Lord Venkateswara through the northern entrance of the temple. It is one of the most significant events in the temple’s calendar, drawing thousands of pilgrims every year.
