Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy Makes Key Remarks on Tirupati Stampede Incident
State Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy expressed deep sorrow over the unfortunate stampede incident that occurred on Wednesday night near the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan Token Issuing Center at Padmavati Park in Tirupati. He explained that the incident took place when a woman, who collapsed due to a sudden drop in her sugar levels, needed urgent medical attention, prompting officials to open a gate to transport her to the hospital. However, devotees mistakenly thought that tokens were being issued and rushed toward the gate, resulting in the stampede.
The minister further noted that the gate, which was supposed to be opened from one side, was mistakenly opened from another side, leading to the chaos. He added that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu personally inspected the incident site and observed the lapses in administrative measures. Ramanarayana Reddy alleged that the DSP rank police officer in charge was absent from the location during the critical time.
Providing details on the casualties, the minister stated that six people lost their lives—four from Andhra Pradesh, one from Tamil Nadu, and one from Kerala. He mentioned that the deceased were sent to their respective homes after post-mortem procedures, with their bodies being transported in ambulances, accompanied by their family members. A revenue officer was also deputed to travel along with the families for assistance.
Ramanarayana Reddy said that 35 injured individuals were given primary treatment at Ruia Hospital before being shifted to SVIMS Hospital for further care. He revealed that a sub-committee comprising three ministers met with each affected family to collect detailed information about the incident. The Chief Minister personally visited all 35 patients, spending nearly one and a half hours inquiring about their condition and gathering necessary details. The minister confirmed that Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to provide compensation of ₹25 lakh to the families of the deceased.
Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of the TTD Board of Trustees is scheduled to take place today (Friday) at 4 PM in Tirumala. The meeting will focus on finalizing the compensation for the families of the victims. Discussions will also be held regarding the distribution of compensation cheques to the families at their native places on Saturday.