Ekadashi Stampede at Venkateswara Temple: 10 Dead, Dozens Injured
In a heartbreaking incident, a stampede during Ekadashi festivities at Tirumala’s Venkateswara Swami Temple claimed 10 lives and left dozens injured, raising urgent questions about crowd safety at India’s busiest pilgrimage site.
What Happened?
The stampede erupted around 5:30 AM near the Vaikuntham Queue Complex, where thousands had gathered for darshan on the holy day. Eyewitnesses reported a sudden surge in the crowd, triggering panic and a deadly crush.
- 10 confirmed dead, including elderly devotees and children.
- Over 30 injured rushed to Sri Venkateswara Ruia Hospital; some critical.
- Rescue delayed due to overcrowding; temple staff and police struggled to manage the chaos.
Eyewitnesses: “People Were Trampled”
- Ramesh, Karnataka pilgrim: “No space to move—people pushed, and others fell like dominoes.”
- Lakshmi, survivor: “I held a railing to escape but saw others screaming helplessly.”
Government and Temple Response
- Andhra CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy announced ₹10 lakh compensation for victims’ families and ordered a high-level probe.
- TTD (Temple Trust) admitted crowd exceeded capacity despite extra security.
- PM Modi tweeted condolences: “Anguished by the tragedy… May the injured recover soon.”
Political Reactions
- TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu blamed state negligence: “Pilgrim safety ignored.”
- Experts criticize repeated failures—similar stampedes occurred in 2008 (7 deaths).
How to Prevent Future Tragedies?
- AI crowd monitoring for real-time alerts.
- Staggered entry slots to reduce peak-hour rush.
- Wider pathways, emergency exits for safer movement.
The incident has marred Ekadashi celebrations, with calls for accountability and urgent reforms.
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