Tirupati MP writes to Union Home Minister for inquiry into administrative and security lapses at A.P. temples

Tirupati MP Maddila Gurumoorthy.
| Photo Credit: File photo

Tirupati MP Maddila Gurumoorthy sought the Union Home Ministry’s help to direct the State and Central authorities to initiate a detailed and impartial inquiry into the repeated administrative and security failures at the most revered temples in the State. The MP wrote the letter a day after the collapse of a wall at Simhachalam which claimed the lives of seven devotees.

Mr. Gurumoorthy, in a letter addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, expressed concern over the series of alarming administrative failures, security breaches, and systemic lapses at some of the most revered temples in Andhra Pradesh, which have resulted in tragic loss of lives, desecration of sacred traditions, and erosion of public trust.

“On April 30, during the auspicious Chandanotsavam festival at the Simhachalam temple in Visakhapatnam, a newly-constructed wall made of fly ash bricks — constructed just 20 days prior — collapsed, claiming the lives of seven innocent devotees and injuring several others. It is deeply distressing to note that the wall was reportedly built without the use of columns and using substandard materials, reflecting gross negligence in supervision and crowd management, leading to loss of lives,” the MP said.

Mr. Gurumoorthy raised the issue of mysterious deaths of several rare and sacred Indian Star tortoises at the Sri Kurmanatha Swamy temple in Srikurmam in Srikakulam district. He said that the mysterious deaths caused widespread dismay among devotees and conservationists alike. “Reports indicate poor maintenance, suspicious fire incidents within the temple premises, and the unlawful cremation of these sacred creatures without mandatory post-mortem examinations, violating wildlife protection laws and traditional practices,” he pointed out.

The MP also expressed concern over the continued breakdown of security at Tirumala. Despite repeated warnings and representations following incidents such as the stampede on January 8, no substantial corrective measures have been implemented by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) administration. Recent breaches, including instances where devotees reached the temple’s main entrance wearing footwear despite passing through three layers of security, highlight serious failures in protocol, surveillance, and coordination among security agencies,” he said.

Raising the issue of death of over 100 cows at the TTD goshala due to the alleged neglect, mismanagement, poor quality of feed, and inadequate veterinary care, the MP said that it indicates systemic collapse within temple management. “The absence of a dedicated security head and the disjointed functioning of multiple agencies have severely compromised the safety of pilgrims and the sanctity of these revered temples,” he alleged.

The MP sought the intervention of the Union Home Ministry to take necessary steps to ensure accountability, strengthen governance, and restoration of the faith of millions of devotees.