A death-trap for Tirumala pilgrims

Tirupati: More than 50 pilgrims had died in road mishaps occurred on the Puthalapattu-Naidupet highway. Especially, the 30-km stretch on highway from Nendragunta Junction to Chandragiri town via Panabakam is vulnerable for road accidents.

Several road deaths took place in the last four months due to blind turnings on narrow road and overspeed driving. In a road accident on the highway two days ago, 3 Tamil Nadu pilgrims were killed near Senkupalli of Pakala mandal in Chittoor district.

So far, pilgrims belong to Salem, Bengaluru, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram and other areas of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had died in previous accidents. Two months ago, a couple of pilgrims, who were coming by walk in the early hours, died in a mishap near Ithepalli of Chandragiri mandal.

The Roads and Building department has not yet modified several blind curves even after several road mishaps were reported on the same stretch. Widening of highway is the urgent need keeping safety of commuters, especially, who are coming from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for the pilgrimage to Tirumala.

The TTD should take the responsibility to initiate the action for widening of the road in between Nendragunta–Chandragiri town. Meanwhile, the Police department erected the barricades near Panabakam to prevent the mishaps and control the overspeeding of vehicles as part of road safety

measures. Social activist M Purushotham Reddy speaking to The Hans India demanded that the R&B department and TTD should take responsibility to prevent the road accidents on the Puthalapattu-Naidupet highway in between Nendragunta-Chandragiri. “Why pilgrims should lose their lives in road mishaps on this highway,” Reddy questioned.

By K Nethaji