Crowd crush at India’s Tirupati temple kills six as thousands seek entry

A tragic incident occurred at the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh, India, where six people lost their lives and dozens more were injured in a crowd crush. The incident happened on Wednesday night when thousands of devotees gathered to receive tickets for a festival that attracts millions of people every year. The temple authorities had set up over 90 counters to distribute tickets, but the huge crowd proved too much to handle, leading to a stampede.

The chairman of the temple's trust, BR Naidu, attributed the crush to overcrowding, saying it was an unfortunate incident. Another board member, Bhanu Prakash Reddy, apologized for the incident and expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed their condolences and assured those affected that the state government would provide all possible assistance.

Unfortunately, accidents like this are not uncommon at religious events in India, where huge crowds gather in tight spaces with little adherence to safety measures. Just last year, over 120 people were killed in a similar incident in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The Tirupati temple is one of Hinduism's most sacred shrines and is known for its rich assets, but incidents like this highlight the need for better crowd management and safety protocols.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/9/crowd-crush-at-indias-tirupati-temple-kills-six-as-thousands-seek-entry