Andhra Pradesh: TTD Prohibits Children On Tirumala Temple Footpath Routes After 2 PM
The TTD will now allow pilgrims with children aged below 15 years to trek on both footpath routes only between 5 am and 2 pm.
Following the tragic killing of a six-year-old girl by a leopard on the Alipiri footpath route on Friday night, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has decided to restrict pilgrims with children aged below 15 years from trekking on both footpath routes to the Tirumala temple after 2 pm. The TTD, responsible for managing the affairs of the renowned hill shrine, will now allow pilgrims with children aged below 15 years to trek on both footpath routes only between 5 am and 2 pm.
These new restrictions were put into effect starting Sunday in response to the incident that occurred on Friday night. Additionally, the movement of two-wheelers has been banned from 6 pm to 6 am. The TTD reported leopard sightings at five locations, including three places near Alipiri to Galigopuram, at the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy (LNS) temple, and at the 38th Turning on Saturday night.
To enhance security, the temple body has increased collaboration with the Forest and Police departments, focusing on all vulnerable points along the footpath route to the Tirumala temple. The Chief Conservator of Forest, Nageswara Rao, said cages and tranquilisers are already kept ready by the forest personnel and they will catch hold of the predator soon.
The TTD EO said nearly 500 CCTV cameras are planned from the point of Gali Gopuram to Lakshmi Narasimha Swami temple on the route.
The temple body has appealed to the parents who are trekking with children on footpaths to take additional precautions.
TTD Chairman B. Karunakara Reddy is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting on Monday with the TTD Executive Officer, District Collector, and Superintendent of Police to discuss measures to ensure the safety of pilgrims on both the footpath routes and Ghat roads.
The TTD has appealed to devotees for their cooperation in adhering to the guidelines given by the TTD, considering the broader interests of the pilgrim community until the issue of wild beast encounters is resolved.
TTD EO AV Dharma Reddy conducted a surprise safety check at night, trekking the footpath from Seventh Mile to the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple.
During the inspection, the EO assessed the pilgrim safety measures, which came into effect on Saturday. These measures include increasing security guards at vulnerable points, grouping devotees in sets of 100, and allowing them to trek the footpath route in the company of a security guard. Continuous announcements remind parents to take care of their children while trekking the footpath.
The TTD EO walked alongside a group of pilgrims, enlightening them on safety measures to remain vigilant and cautious to prevent wild beast attacks.
A six-year-old girl was suspected to have been killed by a leopard while she was walking to Tirumala along the Alipiri footpath on Friday night. Lakshitha had been walking far ahead of her parents, Dinesh and Sasikala.
Her parents searched for her in vain and alerted the TTD officials. TTD's vigilance and security, along with the local police and the forest department, launched a search operation, and they found the girl's body behind the Narasimha Swamy temple on Saturday morning. Forest staff who examined injuries on Lakshitha's body said she might have succumbed to injuries inflicted by a leopard.
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