Six people died while several others have been injured after a stampede broke out near Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan ticketing centers in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati on Wednesday.
The stampede took place in the presence of over 4,000 devotees and huge rush to get tokens for the 10-day special darshan.
Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said he was "deeply disturbed" and ordered officials to ensure proper relief measures for those injured.
Arranged by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the Vaikuntha Ekadasi and Vaikuntha Dwara Darshanam is scheduled from January 10 to January 19.
Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams board, BR Naidu, is currently holding an emergency meeting. He will address the media after the meeting.
Chief Minister Naidu spoke to officials about the treatment being provided to the injured in the incident.
"The chief minister is keeping abreast of the current situation by speaking to district and TTD officials from time to time. He has ordered higher officials to go to the scene of the incident and take relief measures to ensure that the injured get better treatment," a government official said.
It has been learnt that he would visit Tirupati tomorrow.. He will also review the management and security of TTD token counters, where the incident took place.
Former Chief Minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also expressed deep shock and grief over the deaths of devotees at the token distribution centre at Tirupati.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi expressed grief at the incident.
He conveyed his condolences to the families of those dead and urged the government to ensure the best medical care for the injured.
Reddy also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured devotees undergoing treatment in hospitals.
Meanwhile, District Collector Dr S Venkateswar and JC Shubham Bansal immediately reached Ruya Hospital, reviewed the situation and took steps to provide better treatment to the injured.
Also, TTD EO Shyamala Rao, TTD JEO Gauthami, Veerabrahmam, MLA Arani Srinivasulu, TTD member Bhanu Prakash Reddy and others reached Ruya Hospital to take stock of the condition of the injured.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also joined the political leaders paying condolences to the families of the dead with post on X.
"This accident that happened in Tirupati temple is very sad. May God give place to the departed souls in his feet. I pray to God that the devotees who have been injured get well soon and return to their homes," he wrote in Hindi.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also joined the bandwagon of political leaders paying condolences to the relatives of the victims.
The incident has also sparked a political war in the state, with the Opposition party Congress attacking the state government, citing "lack of responsible planning" during religious events.
On January 10, the darshan is slated to begin with every protocol darshan, followed by Sarva Darshan at 8 am.
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