Tirupati: The Tirumala hill region has witnessed incessant rains over the past few days, resulting in significant inflows in its primary water reservoirs. This development comes as a relief to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which was grappling with water scarcity just two months ago. The recent rains have replenished the water sources, ensuring sufficient drinking water supply for the hill town for the next 270 days.
The continuous downpour has brought the reservoirs, including Papavinasanam, Gogarbham, Akasha Ganga, Kumaradhara and Pasupudhara, to near full capacity. The Papavinasanam Dam is near its FRL of 697.14 metres, with a current level of 697.00 metres and 5,192.54 lakh gallons stored out of a 5240.00 lakh gallon capacity. The Gogarbham Dam has reached full capacity at 2,894.00 feet, holding its maximum of 2,833.00 lakh gallons.
The Akasha Ganga Dam, slightly below its FRL of 865.00 metres, holds 645.00 lakh gallons out of 685.00 lakh gallons. The Kumaradhara stands at 895.50 metres, with 3440.32 lakh gallons stored out of a capacity of 4258.98 lakh gallons. Lastly, the Pasupudhara Dam, nearing its FRL of 898.24 metres, holds 966.31 lakh gallons out of 1,287.51 lakh gallons.
The heavy rains also caused a landslide on the second ghat road connecting Tirupati to Tirumala on Tuesday morning. Traffic was temporarily disrupted as debris-covered portions of the road. The TTD engineering department cleared the obstruction, ensuring the resumption of vehicular movement. This is not the first such incident in the region. Continuous rainfall has led to landslides in the past, with the second ghat road being particularly susceptible.
Some sections of the second ghat road also sustained damage due to the heavy rains, with the final few turns being particularly affected. Potholes in these areas have become a major inconvenience for commuters, causing disruptions and safety concerns. The TTD has issued a cautionary advisory for devotees travelling on these mountain roads, emphasising the need for vigilance amid ongoing weather-related challenges.
