The N. Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP government and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) management board have come under scrutiny following a tragic stampede during the Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrations, which resulted in six fatalities.
The First Information Reports (FIRs) registered in connection with the incident reportedly attributed the blame to a combination of crowd behavior and the victims’ health conditions.
The Tirupati East Police filed two separate FIRs after six devotees lost their lives. In one case, R. Malliga, a 50-year-old woman from Mettur Salem in Tamil Nadu, collapsed while waiting in line to receive darshan tokens at Vishnunivasam. A complaint lodged by P. Srinivasulu, a tahsildar from Balaiahpalli Mandal, claimed that Malliga fainted due to a surge in the crowd. Malliga was rushed to Sri Venkateswara Ramnarain Ruia Government General Hospital, but doctors declared her dead on arrival. According to the police, her death was caused by overcrowding combined with pre-existing health issues.
A statement in the FIR, quoted by ANI, read, “When other devotees rushed toward the queue line, she fell to the ground due to her poor health.”
A second FIR was filed by M. Jayaramulu, a tahsildar from Narayanavanam Mandal, documenting the deaths of five others: Kandipilli Santhi (35) from Visakhapatnam, Guddla Rajini (45), Boddeti Naidu Babu (55), Suri Setty Lavanya Swathi (37), and Nirmala from Tamil Nadu. These individuals were waiting for darshan tokens at Padmavathi Park near Ramanaidu School when a surge in the crowd led to their fall. All were transported to the hospital, where doctors confirmed their deaths.
In response to the incident, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced a judicial inquiry and initiated disciplinary action against two officials for failing to manage the situation effectively. During a press briefing after visiting the site and meeting with the injured, the Chief Minister pointed to lapses in the management system, stating, “There were visible flaws in the monitoring system in Tirupati.” He further announced the suspension of two officials and the transfer of the Tirupati Superintendent of Police, the joint executive officer of TTD, and another senior official, citing their failure to ensure smooth operations.