Tirumala rush surges, darshan wait crosses 24 hours

Tirupati: The pilgrim rush at Tirumala has surged since last weekend, with waiting time for darshan crossing 24 hours on Thursday, despite remaining moderate until the onset of summer vacations a few days ago.According to TTD sources, about 86,315 devotees had darshan at the Tirumala temple on Wednesday. The waiting time for devotees opting for Sarvadarshan without tokens was estimated at 24–30 hours on Thursday.Serpentine queues were seen across the hill town, including at the Outer Ring Road, Narayanagiri sheds, Kalyanakatta tonsure centres, Central Reception Office, laddu counters and Nithyannadanam canteen.Senior officials, led by TTD additional executive officer Ch Venkaiah Chowdary, closely monitored the situation. The Annadanam wing ensured round-the-clock food supply and refreshments for devotees in queue lines and at the Vaikuntam Q Complex.Tirumala police, along with TTD vigilance and security personnel, coordinated crowd management along the Outer Ring Road and other key points.With waiting times exceeding 24 hours, authorities advised pilgrims not to join the queue and urged them to return and rejoin on Friday morning.