A stampede during the Vaikunta Ekadashi festival in Tirupati claimed six lives and injured 40 on Wednesday evening. The tragedy unfolded at Padmavathi Park when a crowd of thousands surged, mistaking an emergency gate opening for token distribution. Earlier, another stampede at Vishnunivasam left one dead.

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• Six killed, 40 injured in a stampede at Padmavathi Park during token distribution.
• Rumors about token distribution triggered the crowd surge, causing chaos.
• Another stampede at Vishnunivasam killed a 50-year-old woman earlier that evening.
• Victims included Lavanya, 38, who had traveled for the pilgrimage from Visakhapatnam.
• Poor planning: insufficient police presence and inadequate crowd control measures.
• Overcrowding worsened the situation; 2,000–4,000 people were inside the park.
• Emergency evacuation for an elderly woman mistakenly seen as token distribution.
• Eyewitnesses reported screams, panic, and confusion as gates gave way.
• Vaikunta Ekadashi festival sees high footfall; additional token centers were introduced but failed to manage crowds effectively.
• Criticism mounts over serious lapses in planning and response by authorities.