'Devotees should understand emergency situation': TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy

Ongole: TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy requested the devotees coming to Tirumala from long distances after making reservations to understand the emergency situation and the need to control coronavirus in the country.

He released a video message on Friday and said that the TTD has taken a decision on Thursday not to allow the devotees to Tirumala to control the spread of the disease further. He clarified that the temple is open and will be functioning as per the schedule and all rituals and puja programmes will continue. He said that a pilgrim from Maharashtra fell sick in the Tirumala, but the TTD has taken all precautions to isolate him and got him admitted in the isolation ward at RUIA Hospital in Tirupati. He said that the incident has motivated them to take the decision to stop the devotees from entering Tirumala and stopping them at the foot of the hills.

He appealed to the devotees coming to Tirumala after struggling to book reservations, sevas, and darshan, to understand the situation. He said that he could understand the anger of the pilgrims for stopping them at the entrance of the hills, but requested them to understand that the entire world is worried about the virus and cooperate with the measures taken by the TTD in control of the coronavirus.