Tirupati Stampede Incident: Two Cases Registered

Two cases have been registered at Tirupati East Police Station following a tragic stampede incident during token distribution for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, which resulted in the death of some devotees. The incident occurred last night at token issuance centers in Tirupati, creating a chaotic situation.

According to police reports, one case was registered based on a complaint from Narayanavanam Tahsildar regarding the incident at Padmavati Park. Another case was filed based on a complaint from Balayapalle Tahsildar concerning the stampede at Vishnu Nivasam.

Devotees had gathered as early as 12 AM near Ramanaidu School in Bairagipatteda to receive darshan tokens. To manage the crowd, officials redirected them to Padmavati Park nearby. However, around 8 PM, a devotee who had been fasting since morning fell ill, prompting staff to open the gates to take him out for medical assistance. As the gates opened, a rush ensued, leading to a stampede that claimed five lives.

Earlier in the day, another devotee had reportedly fallen unconscious at Vishnu Nivasam and passed away before the main stampede occurred.