Cyclone Impact Reduces Pilgrim Rush in Tirumala

The impact of the cyclone is being felt in Tirumala, with a decline in the number of devotees visiting the Sri Venkateswara Temple. Heavy rains and adverse weather conditions have resulted in moderate pilgrim footfall at the hill shrine, which usually witnesses large crowds. Transport services have also been disrupted in several parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu due to the weather conditions. With train and bus services affected or cancelled on some routes, many devotees are postponing their trips to Tirumala.

With the rush easing after the heavy footfall witnessed since the recent Brahmotsavams, devotees waiting in the Vaikuntam Queue Complex are now completing their darshan in around two hours. Meanwhile, TTD officials have stepped up precautionary measures in view of the cyclone. Special arrangements are being made to ensure that devotees waiting in compartments and queue lines do not face inconvenience. Officials are also focusing on queue management to minimise difficulties caused by the rain. As a result, the darshan process is currently relatively smoother.