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 on Thursday.
The period from Friday to January 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 on 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 300 rupees ($3.50) each and are sold online.
