TTD to issue SSD tokens for darshan till June 26

Tirumala: The Time Slotted Sarva Darshan (SSD) tokens will be issued by the TTD in SSD counters in Tirupati till the prescribed quota of SSD exhausts till June 26.

The TTD has appealed to devotees to come to Tirumala only if they have darshan tokens in view of the present prevailing restrictions of coronavirus.

In spite of repeated appeals by the TTD, the devotees from faraway places are coming to Tirupati to avail SSD tokens for darshan and facing much difficulties staying back with their families till their allotted time for darshan, which stretches to five to seven days.

This, apart, staying for long in Tirupati is not desirable as it becomes more risky in view of increasing Covid cases in and around the pilgrim city bringing more and more areas under the Red Zone.

In the last one week, more than 10 Covid cases have been reported in the city while a 87-year-old man died of Covid 19 putting the authorities including the municipal corporation, urban police and the TTD on high alert.

Adding to the concern of authorities more so the TTD, a person who had darshan on June 10 when the TTD allowed Tirumala locals for darshan during the three-day trial-run of darshan tested positive.

He is a resident of Balaji Nagar at Tirumala but is staying with in-laws in Tirupati down the hills.

Against this backdrop, the TTD has taken a decision to issue the tickets only till June 26 and a decision will be taken for continuing the issuance of SSD tokens only after a review meeting by the TTD authorities on when to issue the SSD tokens from June 27 onwards.