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Tirupati: Over 700 staff members, including priests, tested positive for COVID-19 since June

Over 700 staff members of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), including some priests, have tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) since June 11, an official of the TTD board told reporters on Sunday, adding that of these patients, three have even succumbed to the disease.

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Over 700 staff members of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), including some priests, have tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) since June 11, an official of the TTD board told reporters on Sunday, adding that of these patients, three have even succumbed to the disease.

Of the 743 infected, three employees succumbed to the dreaded contagion and about 402 personnel have recovered so far from infection while 338 people were undergoing treatment at different COVID care facilities in Tirumala, said TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal.

On the other hand, Singhal has also said that there is no truth in the criticism that TTD is allowing `darshanam` of Lord Balaji, for the sake of income.

"Some media and social media are propagating that TTD is allowing darshanam of Lord Balaji for the sake of income. There is no truth at all in it. We have made arrangements for darshanam for 12,000 devotees per day, according to the guidelines of the central and state governments," he said while addressing the media persons.

Singhal also denied allegations `darshanam` at Tirumala are the reason for increasing COVID -19 cases at the Tirupati.

Explaining the reason behind the reduced footfall of devotees, Singhal said free darshan tokens are stopped for few days as partial lockdown is imposed in Tirupati town.

"Due to increasing corona cases all over the country, the number of devotees is reduced, however, the number of visitors has increased since the last two-three days," he added.

He further pointed out that the online 'Varalakshmi Vratam' was conducted at Goddess Padmavati temple at Tiruchanur on July 31, where 3,507 couples have participated

."In a similar manner, online Kalyana Utsavam is being held at Lord Balaji Temple at Tirumala. 118 couples have booked tickets for August 7; 597 couples have booked tickets for August 8, and 256 couples have booked tickets for August 9," he added.

Sharing some statistical details for the month of July, Singhal said, "Around 2.3 lakh devotees visited the temple of Lord Balaji this month. While the e-Hundi income at Lord Balaji Temple was Rs 3.57 crore, the same at Tiruchanur Padmavati temple was Rs 8.16 lakhs."He said close to 2.59 lakhs devotees consumed prasad.

 

(With agency inputs)

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