Stampede at Tirupati Temple Kills Six

A tragic stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Andhra Pradesh, India, resulted in the deaths of at least six people and injuries to over 40 others as thousands gathered to secure free visit passes for an auspicious festival. The chaos erupted when gates were opened for ticket distribution, leading to a surge of approximately 2,500 people pushing forward at the counters set up at a local school. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and promised support for the victims' families, while local officials are investigating the incident and have vowed to take strict action against those responsible. The temple's trust has apologized, attributing the accident to overcrowding, despite having set up 91 distribution counters. The festival period is highly significant, drawing millions of devotees, and this incident has raised concerns over crowd management at such events. Authorities are now reviewing safety protocols to prevent future tragedies.