Authorities at one of India’s richest and most revered temples have issued an apology following a tragic stampede that claimed the lives of at least six pilgrims in the southern temple town of Tirupati. The incident took place on Wednesday when devotees, who had gathered the night before to collect tokens for an upcoming 10-day temple festival, were waiting in long queues at over 90 counters to offer prayers to Lord Venkateshwara Swamy.
The tokens, meant for distribution starting at 5am on Thursday, were eagerly sought after by the large crowd, with several thousand people arriving early to avoid missing out. However, chaos ensued when the crowd became unruly. Authorities explained that when a gate was opened to assist a woman feeling unwell, the pilgrims surged forward, causing the stampede. At least 40 people were injured, and it took authorities over 15 minutes to regain control of the crowd.
Despite security measures, including the deployment of 3,000 policemen and 1,550 personnel from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which oversees the temple, eyewitnesses claimed that security arrangements were insufficient. Many reported that police officers responsible for monitoring the queues were absent. Video footage from the scene showed police officers administering CPR to the injured before transporting them to ambulances.
Bhanu Prakash Reddy, a member of the Tirupati trust, expressed deep regret for the incident, calling it “unfortunate” and apologizing to the devotees. “This has never happened in the history of the temple,” he added.
The Tirupati temple, located in Andhra Pradesh, is one of the most sacred sites for Hindus, attracting millions of visitors each year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the incident, offering condolences to the victims’ families and wishing the injured a swift recovery. “I am pained by the stampede in Tirupati,” his office posted on social media, emphasizing that the Andhra Pradesh government was providing assistance to those affected.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also expressed his grief and ordered top officials to visit the temple and ensure the injured receive the best possible treatment. The tragic stampede has cast a shadow over the revered pilgrimage site, reminding authorities of the need to improve safety measures at large religious events, a sentiment underscored by the deadly stampede that occurred in northern India last year, which claimed more than 120 lives.
