Tirumala Tirupati temple to close due to the coronavirus outbreak

• Tirumala Tirupati temple has closed its doors to devotees to control the coronavirus outbreak.
• A person with fever and cold was shifted from the temple to a hospital earlier today.

A day after Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, Tirumala Tirupati, the world’s richest temple has also closed its doors for devotees to control the spread of the deadly disease.

The decision was taken in an emergency meeting by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Board. As per the board, the decision to close the Lord Venkateshwara Swamy or Balaji temple is a precautionary measure to control the spread of coronavirus.

Tirumala Tirupati joins the list of several temples that have temporarily shut their doors amid the coronavirus outbreak. Shirdi Sai Baba, Visa Balaji temple in Hyderabad, temples in Maharashtra and Shakti temples in Himachal Pradesh have also been closed temporarily.

Decision taken after a person fell ill in the temple

The chairman of the board, YV Subba Reddy told NDTV that a person was shifted to a hospital from the temple. The person came from Maharashtra and had a fever, cough and cold. After he was shifted, the TTD board called an emergency meeting.

The person had reportedly come with 100 other pilgrims who had visited several other temples across the country. His sample has been sent for testing.

Daily puja rituals to continue

Mr Subba Reddy said that the daily puja rituals will be continued to be carried out by the archakas. "Though for the last few days we have been asking devotees to avoid coming to the temple, the situation now is such that we have to close the temple. The daily puja rituals will be carried out by the archakas.”

Footfall had decreased to 30,000 per day

Tirumala Tirupati usually gets around 75,000 to 90,000 devotees every day. After the appeal by the board to avoid coming to the temple, the footfall had decreased to around 30,000 devotees per day this week.

"Even that can be a huge health risk. That is the reason we decided to shut the temple to devotees. We are stopping them at Alipiri today itself. That may upset people, but it cannot be avoided." Mr Reddy added.

See also:

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