In a heart-wrenching incident at Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati, six devotees lost their lives amid a chaotic stampede. Thousands had gathered to collect free tokens for Sarva Darshan at the iconic Tirumala Temple, leading to the unfortunate disaster.
The tragic event unfolded during the distribution of Vaikunthadwara Sarvadarshanam tokens, which allow devotees free darshan of Lord Venkateswara. As the crowd surged to secure their tokens, the situation spiraled out of control, causing six fatalities, including one individual from Salem, Tamil Nadu. Several others were injured, with four losing consciousness. Many victims were immediately transported to Ruia Hospital for urgent medical attention.
Free Sarva Darshan: A Blessing Turned Tragic
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams provides Sarva Darshan as an added free service for pilgrims visiting the highly revered Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple. Generally, the long hours at the Vaikuntham Queue Complex II result in waiting time reaching up to 18–20 hours during peak days.
This day saw a massive turnout with more than one lakh devotees fighting for tokens to get past the Vaikunta Dwara, a sacred gateway that opens only once a year. The scorching heat, dehydration, and long hours of waiting had a very telling effect on vulnerable groups such as the elderly, women, and children.
Authority Response to the Crisis
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, was deeply pained by the incident. He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and ordered officials to ensure the best possible medical attention to the injured. Emergency steps have been taken to deal with the situation and be on their guard against such disasters in the future.