A top official of the Tirumala Tirupati temple’s board said that people can continue to visit the temple for the darshan. Around 140 staff members of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) that governs Lord Venkateswara’s shrine at Tirumala have tested positive for COVID-19 since June 11.
The TTD that manages the country’s richest shrine, held an emergency meeting of the officials and the priests on Thursday and turned down the demand for the temporary suspension of darshan for devotees.
“We have no plan to close the Tirumala temple. Senior priests will not be put on duty. Priests and employees have requested separate accommodation,” Mr Reddy, chairperson of TDD Board stated, including a separate facility for making meals for the workers will likely be arranged.
Taking it to Twitter, the honorary chief priest, Ramana Dikshitulu wrote, “@ysjagan 15 out of 50 priests got infected with coronavirus while results of 25 others are awaited. TTD EO and AEO refuse to stop darshans. Obediently following anti hereditary archaka and anti brahmin policy of TDP and CBN. Disaster if this continues. Please take action.”
@ysjagan 15 out of 50 archakas carona +ve quarantined. Still 25 results awaited. TTD EO and AEO refuse to stop darshans. Obediently following anti hereditary archaka and anti brahmin policy of TDP and CBN. Disaster if this continues. Please take action.
— Ramana Dikshitulu (@DrDikshitulu) July 16, 2020
In 2018 Ramana Dikshitulu was removed as the chief priest of the temple after he crossed the age of retirement. Moreover, he is alleged that the TTD of financial wrongdoings.
In Andhra Pradesh, a new high of 2,593 coronavirus cases were recorded, as the state’s overall tally reached 38,044 on Thursday. Another 40 related deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours while 943 patients were discharged from hospitals across the state, the latest state government bulletin said. The state’s Covid-19 toll now stands at 492, and the total number of discharges at 19,393, leaving 18,159 active cases.
Meanwhile, the human trial of Bharat Biotech’s anti-COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin began at Rohtak’s Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences on Friday, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij tweeted. “Human trial with Corona vaccine (COVAXIN) of Bharat Biotech started at PGI Rohtak today,” Vij, who is also the Home and Science & Technology minister said.
Human trial with Corona vaccine (COVAXIN) of Bharat Biotech started at PGI Rohtak today. Three subjects were enrolled today. All have tolerated the vaccine very well. There were no adverse efforts.
— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) July 17, 2020
