Editorial: Safety of devotees must be top priority at religious sites

The tragic stampede at Tirumala Tirupati Temple on Wednesday evening shocked the devotees. This mishap, caused by severe administrative lapses, occurred as large crowds eagerly sought Lord Venkateshwara’s darshan through the Vaikuntha Dwara.

Although incidents like these are not new at religious events in the country, the continued failure of temple administrations, event organizers, and devotees to learn from past mistakes is deeply concerning.

Such disasters during religious festivals, satsangs, and congregations tarnish the nation’s image and erode the devotees’ trust in the system. Despite the central and state governments having safety guidelines for such events, the implementation remains questionable, highlighting the need for an in-depth review.

The three-day special pujas for Vaikuntha Ekadashi are a regular practice at the temple, with large crowds visiting for darshan. For the first time, TTD introduced a special ticketing system for darshan during this period, which was criticized from the outset. Additionally, allowing thousands of devotees to enter key areas without proper crowd management has led to widespread backlash against the TTD.

The negligence and irresponsibility of TTD officials and staff have now become evident as the primary cause of the disaster. Despite knowing about the expected crowd surge, the ticketing arrangements and inadequate preparations raise serious questions about TTD’s intentions.

District administrations organizing large-scale religious events must ensure proper safety precautions and preparatory measures. Devotees, too, should avoid risking their lives in emotionally charged or frenzied situations. Participants in such mass gatherings should exercise caution and take necessary precautions.

This tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for all pilgrimage sites, religious centers, event organizers, and devotees to prioritize safety. Immediate steps must be taken to prevent such incidents in the future and ensure that pilgrimage sites do not become venues of disaster.