Tirupati Stampede: CM Chandrababu Naidu Visits Spot, Negligent Officials To Face Suspension

In the aftermath of a devastating stampede at the Tirupati temple premises, which led to the loss of four lives and left many injured, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu, visited the site. He took the time to meet with those who were recovering from the unfortunate event. The stampede occurred on a Wednesday evening during the distribution of 'darshan' tokens, causing chaos and tragedy among the devotees gathered there.

The Chief Minister wrote on X (formerly Twitter), expressing deep shock and sorrow over the loss of lives. He shared how disturbed he was by the deaths, especially given the large number of devotees present to receive tokens. Naidu committed to ensuring the injured received top-notch medical treatment and kept in touch with both district administration and officials from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to stay updated on the situation.

In response to this tragic occurrence, the Andhra Pradesh government has vowed to take strict action against anyone found negligent and is committed to putting measures in place to prevent such incidents in the future. The presence of CCTV cameras at the ticket distribution site is under scrutiny as part of a thorough investigation into the stampede. Additionally, the state government has pledged to provide special vehicles for transporting the bodies of the deceased to their hometowns, demonstrating support and solidarity with the affected families.

The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) had previously announced the visit on January 8, outlining Naidu's plan to visit both the SVR Ruia Government General Hospital and SVIMS Hospital to check on those injured in the stampede. Out of the 41 individuals who were hurt, 20 have been discharged, and the rest are expected to recover soon, barring three who sustained multiple fractures.

The tragic event claimed the lives of G Rajini (47) from Visakhapatnam, Lavanya (40), Shanthi (34), Mallika from Tamil Nadu's Salem, Nirmala (50) from Karnataka, and Naidu Babu from Narsipatnam. To aid the families in their time of loss, the Andhra Pradesh government has announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakhs for each of the deceased's families. Furthermore, a team of state ministers visited the scene and the families of those who passed away to offer condolences and support, reiterating the government's resolve to help in every way possible.

Chandrababu Naidu Orders Probe, Suspensions Over Tirupati Stampede Incident

Chandrababu Naidu held a high-level review meeting for over an hour and a half regarding the stampede incident in Tirupati during the distribution of Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan tokens. According to the police's preliminary report, the tragedy occurred due to administrative lapses. The stampede was triggered when a woman fainted among devotees waiting in a park at Bairagipatteda, prompting the DSP to open the gate to rescue her, leading to chaos.

The Chief Minister directed immediate suspension and legal action against negligent officials, with two cases already registered. He expressed displeasure over the lack of prior planning and questioned the poor response from authorities despite knowing about the influx of devotees, as flagged by local journalists. Naidu ordered a thorough investigation from all angles and indicated that some officials might face dismissal by the evening. He has since left Amaravati for Tirupati to personally assess the situation.