Six killed, several injured in stampede at Tirupati’s Lord Venkateswara temple

Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh): Six devotees, including three women, lost their lives and several others were injured in a stampede at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills, police said on Sunday.

The tragedy occurred as hundreds of devotees scrambled to secure tickets for the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshanam, a special event beginning on January 10. A police official confirmed that the stampede erupted due to overcrowding and mismanagement of the ticket distribution process.

Videos of police administering CPR to injured women and rushing others to hospitals in ambulances have gone viral.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his condolences over the incident and assured support to the affected families.

Devotees from across the country had gathered for the 10-day Vaikuntha Dwara Darshanam, which is considered highly auspicious in the Hindu calendar.