TTD beefs up security along Alipiri footpath route, where leopard mauled 6-year-old

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Preventive measures

The TTD has started implementing grouping the devotees in a set of 100 and allowing them to trek the footpath route accompanied by a security guard.

There are also continuous announcements informing the parents to take care of their children while trekking the path.

The TTD also decided to instal at least 500 CCTV cameras at vulnerable places between Gali Gopuram and the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple.

Lakshitha went missing and the leopard mauled her in the stretch between Gali Gopuram to the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple.

CCTV camera footage had shown that she was alone and quite some way away from her parents.

There was another animal attack in June — also on a child — along the route, but the victim survived it.

In the wake of attacks, especially on children, the TTD has taken two important decisions which came into force on Sunday.

Henceforth, children aged below 15 years will not be allowed to trek in both the Alipiri and Srivarimettu footpath routes.

In another important decision, the movement of two-wheelers to ply along both the ghat roads will be allowed only from 6 am to 6 pm. These two decisions will remain until further orders from the TTD authorities.

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Previous measures

TTD Executive Officer (EO) AV Dharma Reddy participated in a high-level meeting with TTD Forest, Vigilance and Security, Police, and Forest Department officials at the Gokulam Conference Hall on Saturday.

After the meeting, he said that the TTD would deliberate the possibilities of closing both the trekking path routes at 2 pm and 3 pm.

“Nearly 500 CCTV cameras are planned from the point of Gali Gopuram to the Lakshmi Narasimha Swami temple, and the Forest Department along with trained personnel has kept two cages ready on a 24×7 basis,” he said

The TTD EO also appealed to parents trekking with children on footpaths to take additional precautions.

The TTD announced these all along the footpath routes without intervals in the backdrop of the 21 June incident where a 3-year-old boy named Kaushik from the Kurnool district was attacked but survived.

“There are already 30 TTD security and 10 forest guards deployed at this point, and we will enhance the personnel numbers now,” said Reddy.

He also said the TTD would initiate measures as soon as the forest officials furnished their report in a few days’ time.

The Chief Conservator of Forests Nageswara Rao said cages and tranquilisers had been kept ready by the forest personnel to catch any predator along the path.

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Ex gratia

TTD Chairman Bhuman Karnukar Reddy, who had visited the spot where the leopard attacked Lakshitha, assured the family that the TTD would extend all support and announced an ex gratia of ₹10 lakh, of which ₹5 lakh would be given by the TTD and the remainder by the Forest Department.

He appealed to parents to take all precautions to keep children in their sight while trekking on footpaths.

Dharma Reddy on Saturday night carried out a surprise check from Seventh Mile to the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple trekking the footpath.

The EO inspected the pilgrim safety measures which came into force on Saturday.

He walked along with a set of pilgrims and enlightened them on the safety measures to keep themselves cautious from the attacks of wild beasts.

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