A Stampede at an Indian Temple Claimed Six lives as Crowds Fought for free Admittance
Thousands of pious Hindus gathered at one of India’s most popular and wealthy temples to obtain free admission passes, resulting in a stampede that left at least six people dead and 35 injured, according to authorities on Thursday.
In the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, where Wednesday’s event occurred, the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, also known as Tirupati, is thought to be the best place to see the deity between Friday and January 19.
The top revenue officer, S. Venkateswar, the district collector, told reporters Thursday that the stampede started as the gate was unlocked. “A handful of the 2,500 or so people who surged through the barrier collapsed.
He noted that investigators were still attempting to figure out what started the stampede. Tickets to the approximately 2,000-year-old temple are available online and typically cost Rs300 ($3.50) each.
State officials had set up counters to issue tickets starting on Thursday, and a police complaint revealed that the incident happened near a school a few kilometers from the temple between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Police were seen in footage from news agency ANI, in which Reuters has a minority investment, battling to control the gathered crowd.
According to Venkateswar, the rush was caused by people jostling and pushing one another as they lined up early for the passes. Of the 35 injured who were carried to the hospital, roughly 12 were still receiving treatment.
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