Tirupati Collector S. Venkateswar assured the public that extensive arrangements have been made for the upcoming Vaikunth Ekadasi at the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple, scheduled from January 10 to 19. The sacred Vaikunta Dwara Darshan offers devotees a chance to pass through the holy gate to seek blessings from Lord Venkateswara.
Collector Venkateswar stated that 1.2 lakh tickets for the darshan have already been sold. He confirmed the deployment of police personnel at ticket counters and in high-traffic areas to ensure smooth operations. “Elaborate arrangements have been made this year by TTD and the district administration. Police personnel have been deployed at nine ticket counters in Tirupati and one in Tirumala. Holding areas have also been established to manage crowds,” he said.
He added that additional forces have been stationed at Tirumala to handle the increased footfall during the festival.
The preparations come in the wake of a tragic stampede on Tuesday night during ticket distribution, which resulted in the deaths of six people, including one due to illness, and left 40 others injured. The incident occurred near a ticketing counter close to Vishnu Niwasam, reportedly due to miscommunication about gate openings.
“The situation was brought under control by 9:30 pm, and ticket distribution at all queue counters was completed by 1 am. This unfortunate incident was a result of miscommunication,” Venkateswar clarified.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has called a review meeting on Thursday to discuss the incident. He is also scheduled to meet the families of the deceased and visit injured patients receiving treatment.
The Collector confirmed, “The Chief Minister has spoken with all concerned officials and is visiting the area to review the situation. Post-mortems of the deceased are underway, and necessary steps are being taken to assist the affected families.”
Offline tokens for darshan have been made available at various distribution centres across Tirupati. Despite the tragedy, efforts are being made to ensure a peaceful and orderly darshan experience for devotees during Vaikunth Ekadasi.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to preventing such incidents in the future, ensuring safety for all visitors to the holy site.