Naidu orders judicial probe into Tirupati stampede

Tirupati:An upset Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who rushed to Tirupati on knowing about the stampede at the Vaikunta Dwara darshan token distribution centre in Tirupati's Bairagipatteda area that claimed six lives, has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.

He announced suspension of DSP Ramana Kumar and TTD Goshala director Dr Harinatha Reddy, who is directly responsible for the distribution of tokens to devotees for the Vaikunta Dwara darshan. He transferred Tirupati superintendent of police L. Subba Rayudu, TTD joint executive officer (health and education) M. Gowthami and chief vigilance and security officer S. Sridhar for the lapses that led to the incident.

Addressing the media at the TTD (TTD) administrative building on Thursday, the Chief Minister declared: "Whether the lapses are deliberate or

unintentional, they are inexcusable. Those responsible will be held accountable. They must face the consequences of their actions. Ensuring accountability is non-negotiable, particularly when it concerns the safety and faith of devotees."

Naidu said based on the report of the judicial inquiry, appropriate action will be taken.

Soon after his arrival in Tirupati, he visited the scene of the stampede in Bairagipatteda. He then interacted with the devotees injured in the melee and undergoing treatment at the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (Svims) Hospital.

The Chief Minister later convened a review meeting with TTD, district administration, and police officials. Expressing his dissatisfaction with

the planning and execution of the token distribution process, he observed that the unplanned opening of the gates caused the deadly rush.

Naidu said, "When I met the injured devotees, many expressed their deep spiritual connection with Lord Venkateswara and the importance of having His darshan on the Vaikunta Ekadasi. For them, it is not just a pilgrimage but a pathway to salvation."

He announced special arrangements for the injured to have darshan on January 10, fulfilling their heartfelt wish.

The Chief Minister said in the past five years, a new system had been introduced in Tirupati, extending the opening of the Vaikunta Dwaram for 10 days in Tirumala and issuing tokens accordingly.

"Whether or not it aligns with Agama principles is unclear," he maintained. He directed officials to consult experts and ensure that any decisions are both pilgrim-friendly and in keeping with the tradition.

Naidu proposed implementing an Aadhaar-enabled darshan token distribution system to prevent future mishaps, along with better coordination between TTD and civil authorities. He warned against political interference in temple administration, cautioning that such actions could lead to divine consequences.

Ministers Anam Ramnarayan Reddy, V. Anita, Satya Prasad, Satya Kumar Yadav, Parthasarathi and Nimmala Rama Naidu, TTD chairman B.R. Naidu, TTD executive officer J. Syamala Rao and additional EO Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary were among the officials present during the review meeting with the Chief Minister and the subsequent media briefing.