Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], January 9 : Tirupati Collector S Venkateswar informed that adequate arrangements are in place ahead of the Vaikunth Ekadasi which gets underway on Friday. Vaikunta Dwara Darshan is scheduled to be held at the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple from January 10 to 19. It allows devotees to pass through the sacred gate to receive Lord Venkateswara's blessings.
The Tirupati Collector said that police personnel have been deployed outside the ticket counters. The official further added that 1.2 lakh tickets have been sold for (Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala Hills).
"...Elaborate arrangements have been made for Vaikunth Ekadasi this year by TTD and the District Administration. A sufficient number of Police personnel were deployed at all the ticket counters (9) in Tirupati and (1) in Tirumala. We kept holding areas as well. At this particular location, there was some miscommunication over the opening of the gate. An unfortunate incident occurred," Venkateswar told reporters here.
Meanwhile, six people were killed after a stampede broke out at Tirupati on Tuesday night during the ticket distribution. 40 others were also injured in the mishap.
Collector S Venkateswar said that Chief Minister Chandrababu had spoken with all the concerned officials following the incident. "The CM is coming here to visit the patients and to review the situation," he confirmed.
"The situation was brought under control at 9.30 pm last night. At all queue counters, ticket distribution was completed last night around 1 am...This year additional forces have been deployed in Tirumala...," the official said.
"5 persons died in the stampede and one person due to illness...Post-mortem of bodies is underway and will be completed soon...till now 1.2 lakh tickets have been sold...," he informed.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has called a review meeting on Thursday. He is also due to meet the families of the deceased later in the day.
Meanwhile, the offline tokens for darshan have been made available at various distribution centres set up in Tirupati.