New Delhi: The former head priest of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) that manages the famous Lord Venkateswara temple at nearby Tirumala, died due to coronavirus at a COVID care facility in Tirupati on Monday.

Srinivasamurthy Dikshitulu, the former Pradhana Archaka of TTD, succumbed to the virus in the wee hours today, an official told PTI. The former head priest was admitted to state the COVID Hospital Shri Venkateshwara Institute of Medical Sciences  The 75-year-old deceased belonged to Archakam Peddinti Mirasi family, one of the four families associated with the Tirumala temple for several centuries.

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According to a report by TOI, the SVIMS Director Dr. B Vengamma said, "He had other comorbidities. He was diabetic and haD kidney-related problems. He passed away while undergoing treatment early morning."

The deceased has 2 sons who work at Tirumala temple have also given samples for testing and their results are awaited.

Ambiguity prevails over final rites as per centuries-old customs.

Over 170 TTD staffs report Corona positive

According to the latest report, the number of positive cases among the TTD staff has surged to 170. A row erupted after a total of 140 TTD staff, including priests, tested positive for the virus but the board refused to shut the temple doors and allowed around 12,000 people daily for darshans.

The Tirumala police on Saturday also suggested discontinuation of 'darshan' in the interest of public health.

"In the interest of public health safety, the 'darshan' needs to be closed as it doesn't come under the emergency department (activities)," a senior police official wrote to TTD, which manages the affairs of the world's richest temple atop Tirumala hill.

TTD Trust Board Chairman YV Subba Reddy said that a decision on whether to continue with 'darshan' or not would be taken soon by the body.

Tirumala Police, "the spread of the virus started only due to the reopening of the temple on June 8, 2020."

The ASP also suggested various other strict measures, including restricting the number of pilgrims per hour to 250.

The note was sent amid growing demands for the closure of the temple in view of the rising number of COVID cases among TTD employees, including priests.

"To sum up, knowing the fact that a large number of corona positive cases have been reported in employees working in Tirumala, the TTD authorities are continuously permitting 'darshan' for 12,000 pilgrims per day, saying that not a single pilgrim has reported positive. If that's the case, they are forgetting the transmission of the virus from the employees to the innocent pilgrims coming for 'darshan'," the officer wrote.

"Further, the spread of the virus started only due to the reopening of the temple on June 8, 2020, but not otherwise, and employees working in Tirumala are the worst- affected. It can incur a huge loss if a decision is not taken immediately," he added.

At least 18 archakas, 100 security personnel, 20 laddu making workers, two workers of tonsuring area, Kalyanakatta, were among the those who tested positive.

However, of the 170 infected, it was believed that 70 persons had already recovered and were currently under home quarantine. The temple administration is yet to take the decision to suspend darshan to contain the pandemic.

On July 16, when the number of cases was 140, the honorary chief priest, Ramana Dikshitulu, had raised concern over priests and employees testing positive. But YV Subba Reddy, chairperson of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board said that honorary chief priest should have given his suggestions to the TTD Board instead of putting them out on social media. He even claimed that none of the pilgrims visiting the temple was infected by the virus.

The death of the former head priest and the surge in the number of infected cases among the TTD staff pushes the state to an alarming situation and raises questions over the TTD board's decision to continue with the 'darshans'