The State government is expecting a 30% increase compared to previous year in the number of pilgrims visiting Srisailam temple for the upcoming Maha Sivaratri Brahmotsavams, and has asked the officials to take necessary measures to ensure hassle-free darshan for the devotees.
Ahead of the Brahmotsvams staring February 19, Endowments Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, Ministers Anagani Satya Prasad, V. Anitha, and B.C. Janardhan Reddy, along with Collector Rajakumari Gania, Superintendent of Police (SP) Adhiraj Singh Rana and other officials, held a meeting on the arrangements to be made for the 11-day festivities.
Speaking after the meeting, the Ministers said that they have asked the officials to take all measures to ensure no stampede-like incidents take place during the festivities. “We asked officials to make all arrangements and provide facilities for the visiting devotees,” he said.
Mr. Ramnarayana Reddy asked officials to make arrangements for parking and also provide mini vehicles for free transportation of the devotees in the temple town. He said the temple authorities would provide milk, drinking water, biscuits and snacks during the 11-day festivities to the devotees, particularly to children and mothers with infants. On February 24, 25, 26 and 27, the devotees would be provided a free laddu in the queue lines.
The police will be using six drones to monitor traffic. For those coming on foot, walking 40 kilometres through the forest area, the officials were asked to provide drinking water and biscuits in the Chenchu hamlets. Further, the officials were asked to ensure that the Forest and Endowments Department checkposts on the way to Srisailam do not collect toll fee during the festivities.
Temple executive officer M. Srinivasa Rao explained the arrangements being made for the festivities through a PowerPoint presentation.
