Andhra Pradesh likely to come out with guidelines for the crowd management in major temples

SRIKAKULAM/VIZIANAGARAM:

The Andhra Pradesh government is expected to come out with new guidelines for the crowd management in temples managed by both Endowments department and independent trusts in the backdrop of stampede and wall collapse incidents in Tirupati, Simhachalam, Kasibugga of Srikakulam district and other places. Minister for Endowments Anam Ramanarayana Reddy indicated that the government was very keen to ensure hassle free darshan and safety of the devotees. 

Mr. Ramanarayana Reddy who visited Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple of Kasibugga said that a committee with revenue, endowments and police department was appointed to look into the reasons for the stampede and death of nine persons in Lord Venkateswara temple on Saturday.

Mr.Ramanarayana Reddy, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, Minister for Revenue Anagani Satya Prasad would hold a high-level meeting with senior officials of the three departments in Amaravati very soon to review the security arrangements at all major temples.

The government is likely to take the suggestions from seers, trustees, retired officials of major temples before finalizing the policy for the crowd management. Proper formation of queue lines, exit option in case of emergency, medical aid near the temple premises, mechanism for quick rescue operation and others would be included in the recommendations. 

The government’s suggestions and recommendations might benefit thousands of devotees who visit major temples such as Pyditalli Ammavari temple of Vizianagaram, Arasavalli Sri Suryanarayana Swamy temple of Srikakulam and others which always witness huge crowds on auspicious days.

The government’s recommendations are necessary to prevent possible stampedes and other untoward incidents at Arasavalli temple on the day of Ratha Saptami when more than three lakh people would offer prayers in the Sun God temple. The devotees’ number would go up 30,000 per day in Sri Pydimamba temple during Sirimanotsavam that is held in the month of October, every year. 

Meanwhile, Opposition leader in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Botcha Satyanarayana asked the government to appoint a committee headed by a sitting judge instead of officials to find out the exact reasons for the stampede in Kasibugga temple. He alleged that the government’s casual approach was the main reason for the incidents in major temples in the last one year.