Six dead, over 40 injured in tragic incident at Vaikuntha Dwara token counters in Tirumala.
A stampede at the Vaikuntha Dwara token counters in Tirumala last night claimed six lives and left over 40 devotees injured, sparking widespread concern. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, expressing his grief, is set to visit Tirupati to meet the victims and announce compensation for the affected families.
#AndhraPradesh: Stampede occurred at #VishnuNivasam in #Tirupati during the distribution of Vaikunta Dwara Sarva Darshan tokens. Details awaited.#STAMPEDE pic.twitter.com/v6laSFK5x1
— IndSamachar News (@Indsamachar) January 8, 2025
The district collector has submitted a detailed report to CM Chandrababu, highlighting lapses that led to the tragedy. According to the report, the stampede was triggered by the over-enthusiasm of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who mishandled the crowd, causing a sudden influx of devotees. The DSP failed to respond effectively during the chaos. However, the Superintendent of Police (SP) arrived promptly with personnel to manage the situation and assist the devotees.
The report also revealed a critical lapse in medical emergency services. An ambulance stationed outside the token counters remained unmanned for 20 minutes as the driver was unavailable, delaying immediate aid to the injured. The negligence of both the DSP and the ambulance driver has been cited as key factors contributing to the deaths and injuries.
The collector’s report was compiled after consultations with SP Subbarayudu and other officials. Authorities are expected to take stringent actions against those responsible, while CM Chandrababu is likely to announce new measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
This news report is curated with insights from multiple reliable news sources.
