Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh: A stampede broke out on the night of January 8, 2025, during the distribution of special darshan tickets at the Tirumala temple, claiming the lives of at least six devotees, including three women.
The tragic incident occurred at counters where Vaikunta Dwara Darshan tickets for the next morning were being issued. Thousands of devotees had gathered in queues for the highly sought-after tickets, resulting in chaos and pushing, which led to the stampede.
According to the eyewitnesses, the victims, some of whom fell unconscious, were rushed to Ruia Hospital. Among the deceased was a woman from Tamil Nadu. Authorities said the incident took place at the Srinivasam, Bairagipatteda, and Satyanarayanapuram counters. Many of the injured came from nearby states, including Telangana and Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, sources said, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) had announced that 1.2 lakh tickets would be issued across 94 counters starting at 5 am on January 9. However, a large crowd had already begun to gather the night before, leading to the tragic event.
Tirupati MLA Arani Srinivasulu confirmed that primary healthcare was being provided to the injured, and local authorities were coordinating rescue efforts. The TTD had planned to distribute tickets for the Vaikunta Dwara Darshan event scheduled for January 10-12.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed his shock over the incident, offering condolences to the victims’ families and ensuring that proper medical care would be provided to the injured.
