The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board expressed condolences for the victims of a stampede on January 8 that claimed six lives and left nearly 40 injured. As part of its support, the board announced free education for the children of the deceased at TTD institutions and a “contract” job for their relatives, following the decision by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
The stampede occurred at Bairagi Patteda, near MGM School and Vishnu Nivasam counters in Tirupati, where devotees had gathered for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam tickets at the Lord Venkateswara temple. The event marks the beginning of the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, a major religious occasion for pilgrims.
TTD Chairman B R Naidu expressed deep regret at an emergency board meeting, stating, “This was a very unfortunate incident. It shouldn’t have happened. It occurred due to the mistake of a few individuals.” He also assured that strict action would follow after a judicial inquiry.
In addition to the Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia for the victims’ families and financial aid for the injured, TTD members pledged personal financial assistance: Rs 10 lakh each from V Prashanthi Reddy and Suchitra Ella, and Rs 3 lakh from M S Raju.
The board also announced that compensation cheques would be distributed shortly, and board members along with local ministers would hand them over to the victims’ families and the injured.
To prevent future incidents, Naidu emphasized the need for stronger safety measures to ensure that such a disaster does not recur.
In a show of solidarity, TTD also organized a special darshan for the injured pilgrims on Friday, as promised by the Chief Minister. The event, held on Mukkoti Ekadasi, an auspicious day, was aimed at offering spiritual support to the victims.
District authorities provided special vehicles to transport the injured devotees back to their homes. Tirupati District Collector S Venkateswar confirmed that 32 injured devotees had been discharged, and five more, stable but still under care, would be discharged soon.
The Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam was observed with great enthusiasm and devotion, with over 40,000 devotees participating. Efforts were made to prioritize common devotees by reducing VIP visits, allowing around 4,000 devotees to have darshan each hour.
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