Cyclone Nivar interrupts darshans at Tirumala temple

The abode of Lord Venkateshwara witnessed heavy rains and flooding causing hardships to devotees who were heading to Tirumala hill for Darshan. The streets were flooded and traffic too was interrupted for a while.

Tirumala (Andhra Pradesh): Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateshwara, witnessed heavy rains since Wednesday morning.

Tirumala was impacted by the effect of the cyclone. Devotees were stuck in heavy downpour and the streets were full of water. Even traffic was interrupted for a while.

After the situation was fixed, vehicles were permitted to go up the hill. The wall of Balaji Nagar community hall collapsed in heavy rains and due to the prevailing heavy winds, power supply to Balaji Nagar was stopped.

All the reservoirs on Tirumala hill are filled to the brim. Kumaradhara and Pasupudhara twin reservoirs, Papavinasanam, Akashganga and Gogarbham reservoirs are full of floodwater. To ease the situation, water is being released from the reservoirs.

Due to the heavy winds, trees fell on the roads. In the early morning, the second ghat saw a landslide at Harani. The rocks on the roads were removed with the help of JCBs. At 6 am, a stone fell in front of a car carrying devotees. The front wheels of the vehicle were damaged but luckily the devotees escaped unhurt.

The rain and floods have destroyed a lot of flora on the hill, yet the hill is still looking beautiful. Flooding is visible from the hill. The Kapilathirtham waterfall too is looking gorgeous.