January 9, 2025: A stampede at the famous Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday evening left six pilgrims dead and more than 40 injured, triggering chaos and heartache among devotees. Eyewitnesses and families of victims have shared harrowing accounts of the disaster that unfolded during the token distribution process for the Vaikunta Dwara Darshan.

The incident occurred when police opened the gates to distribute tokens to pilgrims, sparking a mad rush among the crowd. One witness, who was with her family of 20 members, described how the stampede broke out when the gates were opened, and hundreds of devotees surged forward in an attempt to secure their tokens.

“A stampede occurred due to the heavy rush. As soon as the police opened the gates, everyone rushed towards the counter,” the witness told PTI. “There was no such token system in place before, and it was chaotic. Six people from my family were injured in the rush, and several women were hurt in the crush. They were immediately taken to the hospital,” she added, visibly shaken by the traumatic experience. The family had joined the queue at 11:00 AM and had been waiting for hours when the stampede broke out.

Among the victims was Mallika, a pilgrim who tragically lost her life in the stampede. Her husband, speaking through tears, recounted the moments leading up to her death. "While my wife and others were trying to get their tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshan, the crowd surged, and she was caught in the crush. It was horrible, and she didn’t survive. I have informed our relatives, and they are on their way," he said.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) confirmed the deaths in a statement released on Thursday, confirming that six people had lost their lives and more than 40 were injured. The statement also mentioned that while one of the victims had been identified, the others were yet to be named. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely.

“This is an unfortunate incident. Six pilgrims have died, and we are deeply saddened by this tragedy. We have identified one victim, and the others are still being processed. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has expressed his concerns over the management of the event and will be visiting the families of the deceased tomorrow at 11:45 AM,” the TTD statement said.

The Chief Minister also voiced his dissatisfaction with the handling of the event during a teleconference, calling the lack of crowd control measures a serious concern. Naidu has assured that the authorities are taking steps to prevent similar incidents in the future, and the management of the Tirupati temple and surrounding facilities is under review.

The incident has raised questions about crowd control during the temple’s high-traffic periods, especially during the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival, a significant time for pilgrims visiting the sacred site. While the state government and temple authorities investigate, the families of those affected are grappling with the aftermath of the tragic event.