I ’m a huge believer, and spirituality is like second skin to me,” says actor and model Shubra Aiyappa . This deep connection is why she eagerly looks forward to her annual trip to Tirupati with her husband, Vishal Sivappa. However, this year’s visit coincided with a tragic incident—a stampede in the temple town that claimed six lives. “We were in the same vicinity and had left the place 15 minutes before the incident unfolded,” Shubra recounts. She shares that she and Vishal had arrived a day before their darshan and decided to explore the festive atmosphere around the temple as preparations for the Vaikunta Ekadashi festival were underway. “We noticed that there were a lot of cops, and security was extremely tight. There was so much jubilation because Vaikunta Ekadashi is one of the most important days in Tirupati. But the crowds were swelling as people lined up to fetch tokens. After soaking in the sights, we left for our rooms. Fifteen minutes later, we read that a stampede had occurred in the same spot, and some people had died.”
Shubra says the news left her in shock. “We never imagined something like this could happen, especially with such strict security arrangements,” she says. Reflecting on the juxtaposition of emotions that day, she adds, “There was such a celebratory spirit in the air, but at the same time, there were cries of pain. It was heartbreaking.” The following day, Shubra and her group returned to the temple for their darshan. “Everything was back to usual, and the process was smooth,” she notes. However, the tragedy left her with important reflections. “Stampedes are becoming a recurring issue at crowded places. Perhaps a more streamlined approach is needed to manage these situations better. We will never truly understand the pain of those families who lost their loved ones. It should not have happened.”