On January 9, 2025, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has on Thursday visited the sites of two stampedes in Tirupati that resulted in the deaths of six devotees and injuries to 48 others.
The incidents occurred on Wednesday during the distribution of tokens for the annual Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple.
Arriving at Renigunta Airport, CM Naidu proceeded to Vishnu Nivasam and Padmavati Park, the locations of the stampedes.
CM Naidu was accompanied by ministers. He questioned the officials—including the District Collector, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Executive Officer, Joint Executive Officer, and police personnel—about their failure to anticipate the large turnout of devotees and to implement appropriate crowd control measures.
Expressing dissatisfaction, the Chief Minister emphasized the need to utilize technology to manage crowds effectively and prevent such tragedies in the future.
He later visited the TTD-run SVIMS Hospital to meet the injured and assured them of the government's full support.
In response to the incident, Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad announced a compensation of ₹25 lakh for the families of each deceased victim.
The deceased have been identified as S. Lavanya (38), Kandipalli Santhi (33), and G. Rajini (47) from Visakhapatnam; Malliga (50) from Tamil Nadu; Buddeti Naidu Babu (55) from Narsipatnam; and V. Nirmala (55) from Kerala.
The bodies were sent to their respective hometowns after autopsy.
Meanwhile, police have registered two cases concerning the stampedes at Padmavati Park and Vishnu Nivasam.
The Chief Minister has directed TTD officials to ensure that such incidents do not recur, underscoring the importance of proper planning and crowd management during major religious events.
