Wed Jan 08 18:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Tirupati Temple Stampede Leaves Six Dead, Dozens Injured
**Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh:** A stampede at a token distribution center for the Vaikuntha Dwar Darshanam at the Tirumala Venkateswara Swamy Temple resulted in the death of six pilgrims and injuries to over 25 others. The incident occurred Wednesday evening as pilgrims jostled for tokens, with five women and one man confirmed dead. The injured were rushed to Ruia Hospital, and later some were transferred to SIMS hospital due to reported concerns about the care at Ruia. The chaos erupted at three different points: Vishnu Niwasam, Bairagi Patteeda, and near Ramanayadu School.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) had announced the distribution of Vaikuntha Ekadasi free darshan tokens beginning at 5 AM Thursday for Darshan on the 10th, 11th and 12th. While 120,000 tickets were to be distributed, the anticipation led to massive crowds well before the scheduled time, overwhelming the distribution centers. The lack of adequate crowd management and infrastructure, including a lack of shade, exacerbated the situation, causing distress, particularly among the elderly and children. Police attempted to manage the crowds but were unable to prevent the stampede.
This incident follows other news from across India, including: a reported irregularity in the distribution of Vaikuntha Dwar Darshan tokens in Tadepalli; the Telangana government’s approval of increased ticket prices for a game; an apology from Tollywood anchor Sreemukhi; the continued box office success of Pushpa-2; reports on hijab-related incidents; incidents at Anna University in Chennai; news related to the BRS party in Hyderabad; allegations of inappropriate behavior towards women leaders in New Delhi; reports on Congress’s political strategies in Telangana; discussions on patience and strategy in politics; news on farm issues in Telangana; reports on illegal mining in Telangana; an accident in an Assam coal mine; updates on the “One Nation One Election” proposal; fog in Delhi; further updates on farming issues in Telangana; news about the upcoming US presidential election; a crucial decision by the central government; and heavy rainfall in Saudi Arabia.
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