Team News Riveting
Tirupati, January 9
A police officer lending help to an unwell woman led to the Tirupati stampede that killed six people late Wednesday night.
Over 40 people were injured in the incident. The authorities said the condition of a few was reported to be critical.
The preliminary investigation into the incident suggested that a police officer opened a gate for a woman who was unwell, when thousands were waiting in line for temple darshan tickets, leading to the stampede. The incident occurred near the MGM High School in Bairagipatteda in Tirupati, one of the several places where special darshan tickets were to be issued from 5 am on January 9.
Thousands of people had gathered on Wednesday for the special darshan tokens for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi at the Tirumala Venkateswara temple. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) had planned to issue around 1.2 lakh tokens for the darshan on January 10, 11 and 12. A total of 94 counters were set up in nine places across Tirupati.
Devotees had started gathering at the counters and waited in line all night for the tokens. TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao said that around 2000 devotees were present at the Bairagipatteda counter where the stampede happened on Wednesday.
“A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) opened the gate, and everyone rushed in at once, resulting in the stampede,” Rao said. The official inquiry will reveal the exact cause that led to the tragic incident.
Tirupati Collector S Venkateswar said that around 40 persons were admitted to the hospital after the stampede. “Six persons have died, including five women and one man,” he said. The injured are above 40 years.
Based on the preliminary investigation, the District Collector said the police officer had opened the gate suddenly because a woman was unwell. “People barged in, which resulted in the stampede,” he added.
The cause of death is reported to be chest compression and respiratory failure.
