The Tirupati East Police have registered two separate FIRs in connection with the tragic deaths of multiple devotees during the Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrations in the temple town on January 8. The incidents, occurring at different locations in Tirupati, underscore the dangers of overcrowding during this annual religious festival.
The first FIR pertains to the death of R. Malliga, a 50-year-old resident of Mettur Salem in Tamil Nadu. She collapsed while standing in a queue for darshan tokens at Vishnunivasam. The complaint, filed by P. Srinivasulu, a Tahsildar from Balaiahpalli Mandal, stated that Malliga fainted due to the rush of devotees.
Despite being rushed to Sri Venkateswara Ramnarain Ruia Government General Hospital (SVRRGG) in Tirupati, she was declared dead on arrival. The police attributed her death to a combination of overcrowding and pre-existing health issues.
The FIR noted, “When other devotees rushed towards the queue line, due to her ill health, she fell on the ground.”
The second FIR was filed by M. Jayaramulu, a Tahsildar from Narayanavanam Mandal, detailing the deaths of five more devotees at Padmavathi Park near Ramanaidu School. The victims included:
- Kandipilli Santhi (35) from Visakhapatnam
- Guddla Rajini (45)
- Boddeti Naidu Babu (55)
- Suri Setty Lavanya Swathi (37)
- Nirmala from Tamil Nadu
According to the complaint, a sudden surge in the queue caused the victims to fall, leading to fatal injuries. They were rushed to SVRRGG Hospital, where they were pronounced dead by medical authorities.
The tragic stampede has sparked criticism from opposition leaders, who have blamed the state government and administrative officials for inadequate arrangements despite anticipating large crowds for Vaikunta Ekadasi Darshan.
Former TTD Chairman Bhuma Karunakar Reddy expressed sorrow over the incident and condemned the Chandrababu Naidu-led government for the administrative failure. “The lack of proper planning and arrangements has cost innocent lives,” he stated.
The stampede at the Tirupati Temple resulted in the deaths of six devotees and injuries to 40 others. The incident highlights the urgent need for better crowd management strategies during major religious events to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
