Date: January 09, 2025
Chandra Babu Slams Officials Over Tirupati Stampede
Chandra Babu Naidu’s Response to the Tirupati Stampede
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandra babu Naidu convened a high-level review meeting in Tirupati to assess the tragic stampede that occurred at the Vaikunta Darshan ticket complex. After understanding the situation on the ground, he ordered the filing of cases against those responsible for the incident. He also personally visited the site where the tragedy occurred. There, he expressed his anger and dissatisfaction with how the situation was handled.
How the Stampede Began
The police presented their report during the meeting. It revealed that the stampede started when a woman fainted inside the Bairagipatteda area. The lack of air caused the incident. In an attempt to assist her, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) opened a gate. This action led to confusion. Devotees mistakenly believed the gate had been opened for darshan tickets. This caused a rush, resulting in chaos and a stampede.
Chandra Babu Naidu’s Criticism of Authorities
Chandra Babu criticized the failure to anticipate this event. He pointed out that the stampede occurred as soon as the gate opened. The lack of proper planning and management was evident. He expressed dissatisfaction with the authorities’ inability to manage the influx of devotees effectively.
The Call for Accountability
The Chief Minister fired on the Collector for not issuing proper instructions to officials on how to control the crowd. He also criticized the lack of coordination between the TTD officials, police, and revenue departments. He stressed the importance of a unified approach to managing such events.
Importance of Pre-event Coordination
Chandra Babu emphasized the need for a Coordination Committee meeting before the event. Such a meeting, he argued, would have helped the concerned departments plan better. This would have ensured the safety of devotees. His strong reaction follows public outrage over the mishandling of the situation. His call for accountability is an important step in addressing the failures of the system.