Six dead in Indian temple stampede as free passes draw thousands
At least six people were killed and 35 injured in a stampede near one of India’s busiest Hindu temples, after thousands assembled to secure free visit passes.
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 Hindus assembled there to secure free visit passes, authorities said Thursday.
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 Thursday. “About 2,500 people just pushed through the gate... a few fell.”
Authorities were still trying to determine what caused the stampede, he added. Tickets for visits to the nearly 2,000-year-old temple usually cost $3.50 (300 rupees) 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 miles from the temple, where state authorities had set up counters to issue tickets from Thursday.
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