Restrictions imposed on movement of pilgrims on Tirumala trekking routes
Tirupati: Following incidents of attacks by wild animals on pilgrims, especially children, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has imposed curbs on the movement of pilgrims with children below the age 15 on the two trekking paths in Tirumala.
An incident of a six-year-old girl facing a suspected wild-animal attack on the Alipiri pedestrian route to Tirumala on Friday forced the TTD to make two key decisions.
“With immediate effect, the TTD limited the trekking hours for pilgrims with children below 15 years of age. They will be permitted to take the footpath routes between 5 am and 2 pm. Additionally, a curfew has been imposed on the movement of two-wheelers on the twin ghat roads between 6 pm and 6 am, so as to ensure the safety of the visitors,” the TTD stated on Sunday.
It said sightings of a leopard have been recorded at multiple locations. The areas include sections from Alipiri to Gali Gopuram, the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and the 38th turning on the first ghat road.
TTD has been coordinating safety steps with the forest department, local police and its own security wing. Its chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, along with TTD executive officer AV Dharma Reddy, held a series of meetings to strategize on ways to prevent further encounters between pilgrims and wild animals.
The state forest department has established a dedicated base camp as part of the efforts to capture the leopard. Camera traps and drone cameras have been deployed to monitor wildlife movement. Installation of 500 CCTV cameras, with a specific focus on the high-alert zone between the 7th mile point and Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple has also been approved.
Two cages have been installed to capture the predator. Chief forest conservator Nageswara Rao said tranquilizers and additional cages were prepared as part of the efforts to capture the animal.
TTD has enhanced the presence of security personnel patrolling the trekking routes. Groups of pilgrims, regulated by ropes, are being accompanied by security guards through the vulnerable areas.
However, this led to complaints from pilgrims that the security personnel were behaving rudely with them.
In a bid to deter wildlife encounters, TTD has recommended that devotees trek in groups chanting Govinda namas. Sound would discourage wild animals from approaching the road. Parents have been advised to guard their children closely to prevent any incidents.
