Tirumala, Feb 23: A 27-year-old woman devotee was bitten by a snake while waiting in a darshan queue at the Tirumala temple late Sunday night, causing a brief period of chaos and renewed safety concerns among pilgrims.
The victim, identified as Mounika, a resident of Bhupalpally district in Telangana, was standing in the Rs. 300 Special Entry Darshan queue when the incident occurred. Around 7:00 PM on Sunday, a snake reportedly emerged from a nearby gap in the queue line structures and bit her on the leg. Witnessing the attack, fellow devotees panicked, leading to a temporary disruption in the moving line. TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) security personnel and vigilance staff responded immediately to the situation.
Mounika was first rushed to the Ashwini Hospital in Tirumala for emergency first aid and the administration of preliminary anti-venom. For further observation and specialized care, she was later shifted to SVIMS (Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences) in Tirupati. Medical officials confirmed on Monday morning that her condition is stable and she is currently recovering in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The incident has raised questions regarding the maintenance of the queue lines, especially as Tirumala is surrounded by the dense Seshachalam forest, making reptile sightings common. In response, TTD officials have ordered a thorough inspection of all queue complexes, deployed additional sanitation staff to clear debris, and instructed the forest department wing to increase surveillance around high-traffic areas.
“We are committed to the safety of every devotee. Instructions have been issued to seal any gaps in the queue line barricades and ensure constant monitoring by the forest cell,” stated a senior TTD official.
This event serves as a reminder for pilgrims to remain vigilant while moving through forested or enclosed areas, particularly during the evening hours.
