Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has expressed concern over the stampede that claimed six lives at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. Stressing the importance of religion in India, Abdullah called for better arrangements at religious gatherings to prevent such tragedies.
Speaking to reporters in Jammu, he said, “People go to religious places not to die but to pray for their safety, nation, and family. The government should look into the way people were killed in the stampede and take steps to ensure proper arrangements at such places. This will help prevent such incidents in the future.”
Abdullah emphasized that religion holds significant importance in India and urged authorities to prioritize safety measures during events that draw large crowds.
The stampede occurred on Wednesday night during ticket distribution at Tirupati, leaving six people dead and 40 others injured.
In response, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu convened a review meeting on Thursday to assess the situation. He is also scheduled to meet the families of the deceased later in the day.
Tirupati Collector S. Venkateswar assured the public that adequate arrangements are in place ahead of Vaikunth Ekadasi, which begins on Friday. The Vaikunta Dwara Darshan, scheduled from January 10 to 19 at the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple, is a sacred event where devotees pass through a special gate to receive Lord Venkateswara’s blessings.
“Elaborate arrangements have been made this year by TTD and the district administration. Sufficient police personnel have been deployed at all ticket counters—nine in Tirupati and one in Tirumala. We have also set up holding areas. At this particular location, there was some miscommunication regarding the gate’s opening, which led to this unfortunate incident,” Venkateswar told reporters.
Offline tokens for darshan are now being distributed at various centers in Tirupati to streamline the process and prevent further crowding.
The Andhra Pradesh government has assured the public of its commitment to improving safety at religious events. Measures are being reviewed to ensure that incidents like the Tirupati stampede do not recur, providing devotees a safe environment to fulfill their spiritual aspirations.
