Before few weeks, dozens of COVID positive cases have been reported in Tirupathi and even at least three succumbed to its infection. If we go by numbers, at least 743 staff of the TTD tested positive for the deadly infection. This an alarming number, regarding the rate at which COVID is spreading in Andhra Pradesh at this moment.
Now, another devotional area, Annavaramm in East Godavari district has become a Corona super spreader as at least 39 employees working in Annavaram Devasthanam tested positive for Covid -19. This was confirmed by executive officer Vendra Trinatha Rao.
On Wednesday, 50 employees, on the whole, were tested positive for COVID-19 another 200 person’s results are awaited. This swell in number has sent jitters among the officials. Following the glaring cases, the Darshana’s in the temple have been prohibited till August 23rd.
On the other side, TTD Trust Board chairman Y V Subba Reddy has ruled out the possibility of the suspension of Darshana’s in Tirupati. Though TTD is an independent body, the AP government needs to make sure that the virus won’t get spread through these kinds of temples. While the Andhra Pradesh government had reimposed complete lockdown till August 15 in Tirupati City, the TTD is yet to temporarily suspend Darshana’s in Tirumala Tirupati Devsathanam.
Though the center has allowed the temples to re-open, the state government has the authority to close them regarding the alarming rise in COVID numbers but no one understands why Jagan’s sarkar is taking a chance in the name of god. If there is such god who is getting offers from his devotees, even he would have preferred to the closure of his temple.