Tirupati stampede: CM suspends two officials, orders judicial probe

The axe of accountability has fallen on two officials for the death of six devotees in the stampede in Tirupati on Wednesday (January 8, 2025) night. The government announced the suspension of two officials and transfer of three.

Addressing the media here on Thursday, after inspecting the scene of stampede and interacting with the officials, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu cracked the whip on the erring officials and suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramana Kumar (who opened the gate without prior announcement, leading to the stampede) and TTD’s Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshanasala (Dairy Farm) Director K. Haranath Reddy (who was in-charge of the token distribution centre).

He also announced the transfer of the TTD’s Joint Executive Officer (Health and Education) M. Gouthami, Chief Vigilance and Security Officer S. Sreedhar and the Superintendent of Police (Tirupati) L. Subbarayudu for failing to ensure coordination between the TTD and civil administration.