Andhra Pradesh orders judicial inquiry into Tirupati stampede

Andhra Pradesh orders judicial inquiry into Tirupati stampede. Headed by Satyanarayana Murthy, former judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, it has to submit its report within six months of assuming charge. Six pilgrims waiting to collect tokens for ‘Vaikunta Dwara Darshan’ died in the incident.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday constituted a Commission of Inquiry headed by M. Satyanarayana Murthy, former judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, to inquire into the stampede that had occurred on January 8, 2025, at Padmavathi Park in Tirupati, which led to the death of six pilgrims ahead of Vaikunta Ekadasi.

Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand issued G.O. Ms. No. 16 to this effect. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, during his visit to Tirupati in the aftermath of the incident, had announced that a judicial inquiry would be ordered.

The commission was mandated to inquire into the circumstances that led to the stampede, which resulted in the death of six devotees waiting to collect the tokens for Vaikunta Dwara Darshan. It was tasked with identifying whether proper arrangements had been made for the issuance of the tokens, and whether there were any shortcomings, and, if so, the persons responsible for it.

The government also directed the commission to suggest measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future, apart from making recommendations with respect to the institutional mechanisms to ensure the safety and security of the devotees visiting Tirumala and Tirupati for darshan of Lord Venkateswara.

The commission shall complete its inquiry and submit its report to the government within a period of six months from the date of assumption of charge. The commission would have the powers of a civil court.