Ex TTD chairmen blame CM, TTD board, police accountable for stampede

On 09 Jan 2025 16:59:49

In the aftermath of the tragic stampede during the Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrations at Tirupati, which claimed six lives, former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)

• TTD board prioritising political interests over the safety of devotees

In the aftermath of the tragic stampede during the Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrations at Tirupati, which claimed six lives, former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairmen Bhumana Karunakar Reddy and YV Subba Reddy have strongly criticized the state administration.

They demanded that Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu take moral responsibility for the incident and called for stringent action against negligent officials. Expressing outrage over the incident, Karunakar Reddy blamed additional executive officer (AEO) Venkaiiah Chowdary, the superintendent of police (SP), their subordinates, and the vigilance wing of the TTD for the chaos. He accused the administration of focusing on political agendas rather than ensuring the safety of devotees. “This is not a lack of coordination but a complete failure of the system,” Karunakar Reddy said.

He alleged widespread irregularities in the TTD administration, stating that officials prioritized pleasing the ruling party members over serving Lord Venkateswara and ensuring the well-being of devotees. “The EO and his assistant are more concerned with political favoritism than with the temple’s responsibilities,” he added.

Karunakar Reddy also demanded that the state government provide ex-gratia payments of ₹1 crore to the families of the deceased and Rs 20 lakh to those injured in the stampede. “People who lost their lives came to seek blessings from the deity. Mismanagement by officials caused unnecessary suffering to them and their families,” he lamented. Former TTD chairman VY Subba Reddy echoed similar sentiments, blaming both the TTD Board and the police administration for the lapses. He criticized the lack of proper signage and communication at token counters, which compounded the confusion among devotees.

“Tirupati town serves devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. Clear information should have been provided at token counters regarding their status—whether they were open, closed, or overcrowded,” Subba Reddy said. “This tragedy underscores glaring administrative failures. It is imperative to restore confidence among devotees and prevent such negligence in the future,” he stated.