140 Tirupati Temple Staff Including Priests Test Covid Positive; TTD Refuses To Stop Public Darshans

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Board has said that they have no plans to stop the darshans and will allow 1200 people daily inside the temple.

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New Delhi: A fresh controversy has emerged at Tirupati after 140 staff members of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) that governs Lord Venkateswara’s shrine at Tirumala tested positive for Covid-19 but the temple still remains open for devotees. TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy said 14 ‘archakas’ (assistant priests), 16 workers in laddu-making kitchens, and 56 security personnel were among the infected. Of the 140 affected, 70 were discharged and the rest being provided treatment, he said. ALSO READ|In A First, Kerala CM Confirms Community Transmission Of Covid-19 In State; Announces More Restrictions There are no plans to stop public darshan at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji temple, said YV Subba Reddy, chairperson of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board. He said there is no evidence of pilgrims testing positive for coronavirus. TTD would continue to allow entry of devotees less than 12,000 in number into the temple daily which might lead to an alarming situation in the city as Covid-19 spreads faster in crowded places. The temple's board decided to re-open it on June 11, in line with the center's "Unlock" plans to handhold the country out of the pandemic in phases. Reddy said,"Most of those who got infected with coronavirus are from the Andhra Pradesh Police who have been working with the temple. Only one of them is having severe symptoms." "We have no plan to close the Tirumala temple. Senior priests will not be put on duty. Priests and employees have requested separate accommodation," Reddy said, adding a separate facility for making food for the employees will be set up. Chief Priest demands action The honorary chief priest, Ramana Dikshitulu, has raised concern over priests and employees testing positive. "@ysjagan 15 out of 50 archakas carona +ve quarantined. Still 25 results awaited. TTD EO and AEO refuse to stop darshans. Obediently following anti hereditary archaka and anti brahmin policy of TDP and CBN. Disaster if this continues. Please take action," Ramana Dikshitulu tweeted, tagging Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

@ysjagan 15 out of 50 archakas carona +ve quarantined. Still 25 results awaited. TTD EO and AEO refuse to stop darshans. Obediently following anti hereditary archaka and anti brahmin policy of TDP and CBN. Disaster if this continues. Please take action.

— Ramana Dikshitulu (@DrDikshitulu) July 16, 2020

Reddy said the honorary chief priest should have given his suggestions to the TTD Board instead of putting them out on social media. According to the Health Ministry, Coronavirus cases in India have crossed the 10 lakh mark, recording 34,956 fresh infections and 687 deaths in the biggest one-day jump on Thursday.