Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: As criticism mounts on the N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP government and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) management following the tragic stampede during Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrations, the FIR filed in the case has attributed the incident to the victim’s health and overcrowding.
The stampede, which occurred on Wednesday, claimed six lives and left several others injured, raising serious questions about crowd management during the festival.
Details of the FIRs
The Tirupati East Police registered two separate FIRs after the deaths of six devotees:
1.The first FIR, filed by tahsildar P Srinivasulu from Balaiahpalli Mandal, reported the death of R Malliga (50) from Tamil Nadu’s Mettur Salem district. Malliga collapsed in the queue for darshan tokens at Vishnunivasam during a surge of devotees. Despite being rushed to Sri Venkateswara Ramnarain Ruia Government General Hospital, she was pronounced dead on arrival. The FIR attributed her death to her “ill health” and the crowd surge.
2.The second FIR, filed by tahsildar M Jayaramulu from Narayanavanam Mandal, documented five additional fatalities:
•Kandipilli Santhi (35) from Visakhapatnam
•Guddla Rajini (45)
•Boddeti Naidu Babu (55)
•Suri Setty Lavanya Swathi (37)
•Nirmala, also from Tamil Nadu
These individuals were reportedly caught in a crowd surge while waiting for darshan tokens at Padmavathi Park near Ramanaidu School. All victims were transported to SVRRGG Hospital, where doctors confirmed their deaths.
Government Response and Judicial Inquiry
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu visited the site of the incident and met with the injured before announcing a judicial investigation into the stampede. Addressing a late-evening press conference, Naidu acknowledged lapses in crowd management.
“I could see some loopholes in the monitoring system in Tirupati,” he stated.
Disciplinary Actions
As part of immediate corrective measures, the chief minister suspended two officials for failing to manage operations effectively. Additionally, the Tirupati SP, the Joint Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, and another official were transferred.
Ongoing Criticism
The incident has drawn widespread criticism of the TTD management and the state government for inadequate crowd control during one of the most significant religious events at the temple. Calls for improved safety protocols and better planning to handle large gatherings have intensified following this tragedy.
