Criticism Grows After Tirupati Temple Stampede

A tragic stampede at Tirupati's Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple resulted in six deaths and numerous injuries as devotees gathered for Vaikunta Dwara Darshan tokens. The incident, attributed to poor crowd management and lack of emergency protocols, has drawn criticism towards the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and local authorities. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan have both acknowledged the lapse in preparations, with Naidu promising reforms and compensation for victims' families. Civil society organizations and political leaders have also demanded accountability, citing the prioritization of VIPs over common devotees as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the need for better crowd control measures at religious sites, where narrow pathways and massive crowds pose significant risks. Compensation and systemic changes have been urged by various stakeholders to prevent future tragedies.