Police personnel and people gather after a stampede broke out as hundreds of devotees jostled for tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills, in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. At least four devotees, including three women, died and several more were injured in the incident, according to officials.
Credit: PTI Photo
Hyderabad: Injured devotees have been rushed to SVIMS and RUIA hospitals run by TTD after at least four devotees died and several others were severely injured in a stampede that had taken place at Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati during the distribution of Vaikunta Dwara Sarva Darshan tokens.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held a high-level meeting with the state DGP, Chief secretary and other senior officials. He had also expressed displeasure with the officials over the incident. He will be visiting Tirupati on Thursday, where he will be visiting the SVR Ruia Government General Hospital and the SVIMS Hospital between noon and 3 pm, where the injured are being treated. The CM will also conduct a review meeting with the Executive Officer and others over the incident.
“Preliminary reports said a DSP had opened the gates at Vishnu Nivasam which had led to the stampede due to a sudden influx of devotees. The incident is painful. The chief minister had expressed anguish. One deceased has been identified,” said TTD Chairman BR Naidu.
Former Chief Minister and YSRCP supremo Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed deep shock and grief over the tragic deaths of devotees.
He described the loss of lives while collecting tokens for Vaikuntha Ekadashi Darshan as deeply saddening and called for immediate and urgent measures to restore order at the location. He also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured devotees undergoing treatment in hospitals.
Hindu mythology holds that passing through the Vaikunta Dwaram, Lord Vishnu's celestial gate, on Vaikuntha Ekadasi leads to spiritual liberation and blessings. This year, Vaikuntha Ekadasi falls on Jan 10. The Vaikunta Dwara is believed to be a direct passage to heaven. Devotees flock to the temple to seize this opportunity, which is available only on Vaikunta Ekadasi.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu opens the gates of Vaikunta on this day, allowing devotees to enter the heavenly realm. By passing through the Vaikunta Dwara, devotees seek to attain spiritual liberation and salvation, making this darshan a highly revered and sought-after experience.