TTD sending 100 devotees in group, accompanied by security guard on Alipiri walkway

TIRUMALA: Following the tragic incident in which a six-year-old girl was mauled to death by a leopard on the Alipiri walkway in Tirumala, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams(TTD) beefed up security, particularly from the vulnerable seventh mile.

Devotees grouped into a set of 100 accompanied by a security guard were allowed to trek the walkway in a staggered manner. The confidence of devotees who were worried about taking the Alipiri route to Tirumala was bolstered by the TTD Executive Officer (EO) AV Dharma Reddy who walked along with them from the seventh mile to Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple, where the unfortunate incident occurred.

The EO carried out a surprise check and inspected the pilgrim safety measures which came into force on Saturday included increasing security guards at vulnerable points, grouping the devotees in a set of 100 and allowing them to trek the footpath route accompanied by a security guard, continuous announcements informing the parents to take care of their children while trekking the walkway.

The TTD EO walked along with a set of pilgrims and enlightened them on the safety measures to keep themselves safe from the attacks of wild beasts. TTD vigilance, engineering and forest officials were also present.