Tirupati Temple Stampede Claims 6 Lives, Judicial Probe Ordered

The tragedy occurred during token distribution for a major festival, raising concerns about crowd management and safety preparedness.

Six devotees, including five women, died and nearly 40 others were injured in a stampede near Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati during the distribution of Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam tokens on January 8, 2025.
The stampede was reportedly triggered when a gate was opened to assist an unwell woman, causing a surge in the crowd of thousands gathered for the upcoming 10-day festival at Tirumala's Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced ₹25 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased, financial aid for the injured, and promised a judicial inquiry into the incident.
Survivors and witnesses criticized inadequate crowd control measures, long waiting times, and sudden gate openings as key factors leading to the chaos.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board apologized for the tragedy and pledged to enhance safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.