On Monday, a fire broke out at the Tirumala Laddu counter (Counter No. 47) in Andhra Pradesh. The blaze, believed to have been caused by a short circuit in the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system, spread quickly, prompting panic among the crowd.
This incident follows the tragic stampede on January 8, which claimed the lives of six people and injured 40 others. The stampede occurred during the distribution of tokens for a 10-day special darshan, with over 4,000 devotees present.
In response, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced a ₹25 lakh ex gratia for the families of the deceased and special darshan for the injured. A judicial probe into the stampede has been ordered, and several officials have been suspended or transferred.
The controversy surrounding the Tirupati laddu started on September 18, 2024, when Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government of using adulterated ghee that contained animal fat, including beef tallow and fish oil, in the preparation of the sacred prasadam.
Following these allegations, a series of investigations were initiated, culminating in the formation of a Special Investigation Team on September 26, 2024, to delve into the matter.
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