Tirupati: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Saturday visited the site of the stampede that occurred at Padmavati Park in Bairagipatteda, Tirupati. The tragic incident, which claimed lives and left several injured, prompted Pawan to inspect the area and meet the victims undergoing treatment at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS).
Pawan Kalyan inquired into the causes of the stampede and expressed anguish over the incident. Addressing the media at the TTD office, he said, “The incident is deeply painful. Devotees from across the country visit Tirupati as part of a long-standing tradition. We are investigating the reasons behind the tragedy, and I sincerely apologize to the public for what happened.”
Pawan Kalyan criticized the TTD management and the police for failing to prevent the incident despite deploying a significant number of personnel. He expressed disappointment over the negligence and stated, “Such incidents have never happened before. It is unfortunate that despite the presence of the TTD staff and police, this stampede occurred. The victims’ suffering is indescribable.”
He further said that the Executive Officer (EO), Additional EO, and police officials must take responsibility for the mishap. “Police are responding only after I intervened. Officials like Shyamala Rao and Venkayya Chowdary need to act responsibly,” he added.
The Deputy CM also criticized the VIP culture at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). “The TTD board should give priority to common devotees, not VIPs. The board needs to focus on improving crowd management instead of catering to VIP needs. The negligence is evident, and no one should escape accountability,” he said.
Pawan also noted that the government’s image is being tarnished due to the mistakes of individuals in the system. He warned, “VIP attitude must end. The government will take corrective measures to ensure such incidents do not happen in the future.”
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Pawan Kalyan assured that the state government would provide financial assistance to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident. He added that injured devotees would be given the opportunity for darshan once they recover.
“Chief Minister Chandrababu is closely monitoring the situation. The government is committed to ensuring justice for the victims. We will take measures to prevent such incidents in the future,” he said.Pawan criticized the police for their failure in handling the crowd. He stated that his visit made it evident that there were lapses in crowd management. “The police failed to control the situation. I will meet the DGP to explain the lapses and seek strict action,” he said.
Protest Against the State Government
As Pawan Kalyan interacted with the media, slogans were raised against the government, particularly targeting Chief Minister Chandrababu. The crowd expressed dissatisfaction over the state’s response to the tragedy, demanding accountability from the administration.
The Deputy CM reiterated that a detailed inquiry would be conducted to identify those responsible. “Some are alleging that the incident was orchestrated. We will conduct a thorough investigation, hold the guilty accountable, and ensure justice for the affected families,” he assured.
READ MORE: Pawan Kalyan Visits Tirupati After Stampede, Calls for Accountability