An increase in Covid-19 cases in Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara in Andhra Pradesh, has a section of employees, the honorary chief priest asking for a temporary ban on darshans. Ramana Deekshitulu, the former chief priest and present honorary chief priest, said, “There are 15 priests who have tested positive for coronavirus. Still 25 results are awaited. But the TTD executive officer and assistant executive officer refuse to stop darshans.”
TTD Chairman Subba Reddy admitted that 140 of the staff of TTD tested positive for Covid-19 but not even a single devotee tested positive so far. The TTD is taking utmost care during these testing times. Subba Reddy said, “There is no question of closing the temple since the situation is under control. Those who are above 60 years of age kept out of their duties. Of the 140 infected, 70 people were cured and they are under home quarantine. All of them are healthy except one person.”
The services of the Venkateswara temple in Tirumala resumed on 8 June with due protocols. At present, only 12,000 pilgrims are allowed daily because of the pandemic. Recently the collector of Chittoor district, where Tirumala is situated, had declared Tirumala a red zone but removed it following pressure from the temple authorities. As on Thursday, there were 2,195 active cases with total positive cases being 3,536 and 38 deaths.