Tirupati stampede: DSP, Goshala director suspended; CM Naidu orders judicial probe

Tirupati: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu suspended DSP Ramana Kumar and goshala director Harinath Reddy for failing to ensure smooth operations which resulted in the stampede during the ticket distribution of Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam in Tirumala.

CM Naidu ordered a judicial inquiry into the Tirupati stampede incident. The two suspended officers were in charge of the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam ticket distribution venue at Bairagi Patteda near MGM School in Tirupati.

Additionally, three officers including SP Subba Rayudu, joint executive officer Gouthami and CSO Sridhar have been transferred with immediate effect.

CM Naidu announces jobs for kin of deceased

Six devotees died and nearly 33 were injured in the stampede at the Bairagi Patteda near MGM School in Tirupati on Wednesday night as hundreds jostled for tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills. CM Naidu announced contract jobs for each of the kin of the devotees who lost lives during the stampede.

Those injured during the stampede have been assured of a special Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam.

Devotees mistook the purpose of gate opening

Speaking to the media, CM Naidu said, “Officers who were deployed to manage the distribution of tokens failed to perform their duties. Importantly, the venue where the tokens were being given is wrong. The gate was opened because some person was not well. They did not take additional care of that. The devotees in line for the tokens thought the gates were opened for the distribution of tokens and it resulted in the stampede.”

He highlighted that the DSP completely failed to inform the devotees about the token distribution.

On the statement that there were no ambulances in the surrounding areas, CM Naidu said, “I could see some loopholes in the monitoring system in Tirupati, which is why I have announced a judicial probe into the incident.”

The government announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh each to the kin of the deceased devotees and Rs 2 lakh for the injured devotees.

Govt will take suggestions from public on ways to distribute tickets

On Thursday, Chandrababu Naidu visited the accident site and questioned the officials regarding the incident. “Do you understand human psychology? Won’t the public panic when you open the gate and allow thousands of them?” questioned CM Naidu and asked about the number of security personnel deployed.

Hundreds of devotees turned up from across the country for the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam commencing on January 10.

Speaking about the special darshanam tickets, CM Naidu said, a new system of issuing tokens was introduced by the previous regime in Tirupati as opposed to the earlier system of giving them in Tirumala Hills.

"We would soon take suggestions from the public on ways to distribute tickets and consider whether online or offline mode of distribution is better."