A man, identified as Kuttadi Tirupati from Telangana, climbed the 100-foot ‘Gopuram’ of Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, while intoxicated. He attempted to damage two “kalashams,” causing panic among security personnel and devotees. The man, a daily wage worker, stayed atop the tower for about three hours before being persuaded by police to descend.
The individual bypassed security and scaled the tower, demanding liquor in exchange for climbing down. Authorities, including the temple administration and local police, safely brought him down without harm to the heritage structure. The man was detained for questioning at the Tirupati East Police Station to determine how he accessed the restricted area.
Preliminary investigations suggest a security lapse during peak pilgrim hours led to the breach. This incident has raised concerns over the security of Tirupati’s shrines, which have faced previous challenges. In recent years, unauthorized entries and thefts have prompted calls for enhanced security measures, with past incidents highlighting the need for a comprehensive security overhaul.
