Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed grave concern over the tragedy and is closely monitoring the situation. CM Naidu has criticised the mishandling of the arrangements and will meet the families of the deceased on Thursday morning.
TTD Chairman BR Naidu called the incident "unfortunate" and pledged a detailed inquiry to ensure such events do not recur. TTD Board Member Bhanu Prakash Reddy apologised to the devotees and assured that the trust would take serious action against lapses.
The victims were rushed to Sri Venkateswara Ramnarayan Ruia Government General Hospital, where they received medical attention. Among the victims, a 50-year-old woman, R. Malliga, collapsed in a queue at Vishnu Niwasam and was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Five other devotees lost their lives at Padmavathi Park near Ramanaidu School due to a sudden surge in the queue. Tirupati East Police have registered two separate FIRs, citing overcrowding and poor health conditions as contributing factors to the fatalities.
The victims have been identified as Kandipilli Santhi, Guddla Rajini, Boddeti Naidu Babu, Suri Setty Lavanya Swathi, and Nirmala. Opposition leaders criticised the government for failing to manage the crowds despite the anticipated turnout of lakhs of devotees.
Former TTD Chairman Bhuma Karunakar Reddy accused the administration of negligence in organising the Vaikuntha Ekadasi Darshan. TTD Executive Officer Shyamala Rao confirmed the death toll and injuries while assuring a thorough investigation into the incident.
The stampede has raised questions about the preparedness and crowd management capabilities during large-scale religious gatherings. The tragedy has left a sombre mark on the Vaikuntha Ekadasi celebrations, with calls for accountability and improved safety measures.
