AP CM Chandrababu Visits Tirupati, Questions Officials Over Crowd Mismanagement

In the aftermath of the stampede incident in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu visited the site to assess the situation firsthand. Arriving at Renigunta Airport from Vijayawada, Chandrababu proceeded directly to Bairagipatteda, where the unfortunate incident had occurred. He was accompanied by ministers Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Anagani Satyaprasad, Nimmala Ramanaidu, Anita, Satyakumar, and TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu.

During his visit, the Chief Minister inquired about the reasons behind the incident and expressed strong displeasure toward the TTD Executive Officer (EO), Joint Executive Officer (JEO), District Collector, and SPs. When the TTD EO explained that the stampede occurred after opening the gate, Chandrababu questioned, "Don’t you understand how human psychology works?" He criticized the officials for accommodating 2,500 devotees in an area meant for only 2,000 people and demanded an explanation for allowing the excess crowd.

Chandrababu further pressed officials on several lapses, asking whether adequate instructions had been given to the police officer in charge of crowd control. He questioned why, despite having a large administrative setup, ticket distribution was poorly managed. He also asked what steps were taken as the crowd increased and inquired about the response time of ambulances to the scene. "If preventive measures are taken before something happens, it’s called administration," he remarked, adding that action taken after an incident is of little use.

The Chief Minister emphasized the need for measures to prevent such incidents in the future. He urged officials to work systematically, learn to manage operations properly, and take their responsibilities seriously. Chandrababu concluded by warning them not to treat such incidents lightly and stressed the importance of accountability in carrying out their duties.