---
title: "Indian temple stampede: Six dead as thousands jostle for free passes"
description: "HYDERABAD, Jan 9 (Reuters) - At least six people were killed and 35 injured in a stampede near one of India's busiest, and richest, temples, after thousands of devout Hindusflocked to secure free visit passes, authorities said on Thursday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Tirupati"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-09-indian-temple-stampede-six-dead-as-thousands-jostle-for-free-passes/"
published: "2025-01-09T11:46:51"
updated: "2025-01-09T11:46:52"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 257
---

# Indian temple stampede: Six dead as thousands jostle for free passes

> HYDERABAD, Jan 9 (Reuters) - At least six people were killed and 35 injured in a stampede near one of India's busiest, and richest, temples, after thousands of devout Hindusflocked to secure free visit passes, authorities said on Thursday.

By Reuters · Published 9 January 2025, 13:46 SAST · Updated 9 January 2025, 13:46 SAST

## Key points
- In a chaotic rush for divine access, a stampede at the revered Tirupati Temple left dozens injured, proving that even the most sacred of sites can't escape the perils of human impatience and a poorly managed ticket line.
- A stampede occurred at Tirupati's Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple as 2,500 people rushed through a gate during an auspicious period for visits.
- The incident, which left about 35 injured, happened while authorities were distributing tickets for temple access.
- Video footage reveals police struggling to control the crowd as people jostled for passes, leading to the chaos.
- The temple's management has apologized and pledged accountability, while Prime Minister Modi expressed condolences to the victims' families.

## Content

The period from Friday to Jan. 19 is considered auspicious for visits to the deity at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, popularly known as Tirupati, in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, the site of Wednesday's incident.

"The stampede took place when the gate was opened," S. Venkateswar, the district collector, or top revenue official, told reporters on Thursday. "About 2,500 people just pushed through the gate... a few fell."

Authorities were still trying to determine the reasons behind the stampede, he added. Tickets for visits to the nearly 2,00-year-old temple usually cost 300 rupees ($3.50) each and are sold online.

A police complaint showed the incident occurred between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 pm outside a school a few kilometres from the temple, where state authorities had set up counters in readiness to issue tickets from Thursday.

Video images show police struggling to manage the crowd that had gathered for the passes, in clips recorded by news agency ANI in which Reuters holds a minority stake.

People who started queuing early for the passes pushed and jostled each other, leading to the stampede, Venkateswar said, adding that about a dozen of the 35 injured who were taken to hospital are still being treated.

Temple operator the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) apologised for the incident and promised action against anyone found responsible.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a post on X, adding, "My thoughts are with those who have lost their near and dear ones."

(Writing by Sudipto Ganguly; Editing by Michael Perry and Clarence Fernandez)