Tirupati, August 14, 2023: In the aftermath of a heartbreaking incident involving a leopard attack that claimed the life of a six-year-old girl, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has taken swift and proactive measures to enhance the safety of pilgrims, especially those accompanied by children under 15 years old. The new safety regulations come into effect immediately, with the primary aim of preventing similar incidents in the future.
Children within the age group of 15 years and below will now be allowed to access pedestrian routes exclusively between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. The implementation of this restriction is an essential step towards safeguarding young pilgrims from potential dangers. Additionally, as a precautionary measure, two-wheelers will be restricted from accessing Ghat roads from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., further ensuring the safety of all devotees.
These protective actions have been taken following reports of multiple leopard sightings near significant locations such as Alipiri, Galigopuram, and the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy (LNS) temple. A recent incident involved a leopard being spotted on the Ghat road at around 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, which prompted immediate response from forest officials to guide the animal back to its natural habitat.
To augment the safety of children, Tirupati police constables stationed at the 7th-mile checkpoint between Alipiri and Tirumala will affix security identification tags to the hands of children. These manual identification tags, which include parental contact details, will facilitate quick communication in the event of unforeseen circumstances. Parents are strongly urged to exercise diligent supervision over their children to prevent any untoward incidents.
Clarifying the nature of the identification tags, the TTD executive officer explained that these tags employ a non-digital and non-RFID system, similar to the one used during the Srivari Brahmotsavams in Tirumala. The TTD authorities emphasize the importance of adhering to the guidelines issued by the Board until a solution is found to address the concerns related to wildlife encounters.
In response to the tragic leopard attack, the Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has requested comprehensive reports from various departments, including TTD, forest, police, and revenue. The objective of this request is to gain insights into the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident and to better understand recent instances of leopard encounters, paving the way for more effective preventive measures in the future.
