Six pilgrims including five women, lost their lives and 29 injured in a stampede at Srinivasam in Tirupati on Wednesday evening.
According to official sources, the stampede occurred at the queue for the issue of tokens or darshan of Vaikunta Dwaram when the gates were suddenly opened to make way for an ambulance carrying a sick TTD staffer to hospital. The death toll is likely to go up, according to officials.
The TTD Executive Officer and District Collector are supervising the relief operations and the situation has been brought under control, an official said.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep shock at the demise of the pilgrims and is `closely monitoring’ the treatment being given to the injured and other developments.
He also directed the officials to take all possible steps for providing relief to the devotees, according to a release.
