Tirupati stampede: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu visited Tirumala on Thursday (January 9) to meet the individuals who got injured in the stampede that occurred at the Tirupati temple premises.
Earlier, a press release issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on January 8, reads, "Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu will visit Tirupati to meet the injured.
CM Naidu visited SVR Ruia Government General Hospital and SVIMS Hospital between noon and 3:00 pm, where the injured are being treated. Out of a total of 41 injured, 20 were discharged this morning. According to TTD, the remaining 21 injured will also be discharged by evening on Thursday. Only three people have multiple fractures, and it will take some time for them to be discharged from the hospital. All the injured are out of danger.
"As of the latest toll, four people were killed in a stampede that broke out at the Tirupati temple premises in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday evening, officials said. According to officials, the incident occurred near Vishnu Niwasam at the Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara ticketing counter during the distribution of 'darshan' tokens. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), CM Naidu stated that he has directed higher officials to go to the spot and take relief measures to provide better medical treatment to the injured and that their lives are saved.CM Naidu is in regular contact with the district administration and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials to take stock of the situation.
Deaths of devotees shocked me: CM Naidu
In a social media post on X, N Chandrababu Naidu wrote, "The death of several devotees in a stampede near Vishnu Niwasam in Tirupati for tokens to visit Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara has shocked me. This tragic incident, which took place at a time when devotees had gathered in large numbers for tokens, deeply disturbed me. In the wake of information that the condition of some of them is critical, I have directed higher officials to go to the spot and take relief measures... to provide better medical treatment to the injured and save their lives. I am talking to the district and TTD officials from time to time and am taking stock of the situation."
As per the statement, CM Naidu said that he was deeply disturbed by the loss of four lives in the incident that took place when devotees had gathered in large numbers for tokens. The CM spoke to officials over the phone about the treatment being provided to the injured in the incident, the CMO said. The CM is keeping abreast of the current situation by speaking to district and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials from time to time.
List of people who lost their lives in stampede
- G Rajini (47) from Visakhapatnam
- Lavanya (40)
- Shanthi (34)
- Mallika from Tamil Nadu's Salem
- Nirmala (50) from Karnataka
- Naidu Babu from Narsipatnam
Rs 25 lakh compensation announced by Andhra government
The CM has ordered higher officials to go to the scene of the incident and take relief measures to ensure that the injured get better treatment, the CMO added in its statement.
The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakhs to the families of the deceased. The state ministers announced that the ministerial team arrived as per the Chief Minister's orders and that the government would support them in all possible ways.
On Thursday morning, State Home Minister Anitha, State Revenue Minister, District In-charge Minister Agani Satya Prasad, State Devadaya Minister Anam Ramanaraya Reddy, Housing and Information Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy, Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu, District Collector Dr S Venkateshwar Chandragiri legislators Pulivarthi Nani along with the joint collector, the deceased in Ruya hospital mortuary checked and comforted their families and learned the details.
Later, the ministers told the media that the government will provide all possible support to the families of those who died in the stampede at the Ekadashi darshan token place. Check that there are CCTV cameras everywhere where you can get Vaikuntha Ekadashi darshan tickets. After a full investigation into the incident, strict action will be taken against the staff if they are negligent. He said that Rs 25 lakh will be given to the family of the deceased.
He said that as soon as the incident in Tirupati was known, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu sent ministers to Tirupati. He said that it is unfortunate that this incident happened and appropriate measures will be taken to prevent such incidents from happening again. He said that the government would support the families of the deceased in all possible ways and that the deceased belonged to Tamil Nadu and Andhra states, and their dead bodies would be sent to their native villages by an official in a special vehicle.
