Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy demands accountability and compensation for Tirupati stampede victims.

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has called for immediate accountability and compensation for the victims of the Stampede during Vaikuntha Ekadashi ticket distribution in Tirupatiwhich claimed six lives and left more than 50 devotees injured.

Jagan expressed deep concern over the incident and blamed the Chandrababu Naidu-led government, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) administration and district officials for their negligence and mismanagement of crowds.

Jagan pointed out that such a tragic incident had never occurred in the history of Tirumala, even though large crowds gathered for the event every year. He criticized the TTD and the state government for not making adequate arrangements despite anticipating the high turnout.

“A crowd is expected for Vaikuntha Ekadashi every year. Why were there no proper arrangements at the ticket offices? Why wasn’t security deployed? This incident could have been avoided if the administration and police had acted systematically,” Jagan said.

He also highlighted that Naidu, who was in Kuppam during the days before the stampede, had diverted police resources to personal events, leaving no backup plans to manage the crowd in Tirupati.

Devotees, who had been waiting in long queues at the counters at Padmavati Park and Bhairagipatnam since 9 am, faced delays as the counters did not open until 8 pm. This, combined with the lack of basic services such as food and water, contributed to the chaos.

Reddy demanded that several key officials take responsibility for the incident, including the Chief Minister, TTD Chairman, Executive Officer (EO), Additional EO, District Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP). He also sought an ex gratia of Rs 50 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh for those injured in the stampede.

He also urged immediate reforms in crowd management during important events like Vaikuntha Ekadashi to prevent future tragedies. He noted that during the previous government these types of events were managed efficiently and without incident, and described the recent stampede as a clear sign of negligence on the part of the current administration.

The former Chief Minister demanded a thorough investigation into the incident and strict action against those responsible. “The sanctity of Tirumala and the safety of devotees should never be compromised,” he said.