Govt Announces Rs 25 Lakh Ex Gratia To Next Of Kin Of Dead
Tirupati stampede raises political temperatures in Andhra Pradesh
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu speaking to a devotee injured in stampede at SVIMS in Tirupati on Thursday
Tirupati/Vijayawada: The Tirupati stampede which claimed six lives has raised a political storm in Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister PawanKalyan rushing to the temple city on Thursday and promising stringent punishment if anyone was found guilty for security lapse and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing utter negligence to the safety of devotees by the TDP-led NDA Government.
The State Government announced a compensation of Rs25 lakh to the kin of the deceased devotees and extended best possible treatment to the injured undergoing treatment at SVIMS and other hospitals here.Naidu held a review meeting with the senior officials and directed them to take fool-proof measures on implementation of safety protocols. He told the media that there will be no compromise on maintaining the sanctity of the holy places and appealed to everyone not to politicise such unfortunate incidents.
A pall of gloom descended on the temple city on the eve of Sankranti after the death of six people in the stampede which occurred at the time of distribution of Vaikuntha Dwarak Sarva Darshan Tokens on the occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadasi near Vishnu Nivasam close to Tirumala Srivari ticketing counter. Preliminary reports said overcrowding and lack of adequate security caused the stampede.
"We are investigating into the incident and taking all precautionary steps to prevent recurrence of such tragedies,"Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Chairman BR Naidu said.
TTD officials said they made arrangements for distribution of 1.20 lakh tokens at 5.30 am at 94 counters at Vishnu Nivasam, Srinivasam and Bhudevi pilgrim complexes in addition to other places like Satyanarayanapuram, Baiagipatteda and Ramanaidu School.
Expressing shock over the stampede, Jagan Mohan Reddy, described as very unfortunate the death of devotees while waiting to collect the darshan tokens.He squarely blamed the coalition government for the security lapse.
Former TTD Chairman and YSRCP leader Bhuma Karunakar Reddy questioned lack of proper arrangements for Vaikuntha Ekadasi Darshan tokens knowing very well that lakhs of devotees would turn up.He alleged that controversial individuals were given control of TTD turning it into a political hub and asked Chief Minister Naidu to own up moral responsibility for the stampede.
