Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Environment and Forests K. Pawan Kalyan has asked officials to take steps for the safety of devotees using the Tirumala footpath, after a leopard was found roaming near Dorasani Mandapam.

In a press release, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said H.A.N.U.M.A.N (Healing and Nurturing Units for Monitoring, Aid and Nursing of Wildlife) teams should be deployed to ensure the wild cat caused no harm to the devotees.

He asked the Forest Department and the TTD’s forest and vigilance wings to coordinate properly so that the devotees would be safe, and advised that they move in groups.

He advised officials to take appropriate measures to ensure that pilgrims were not disturbed. Officials explained to the Deputy Chief Minister the measures being taken, in coordination with the Forest Department, the TTD Forest Wing and the TTD Vigilance Wing, to ensure pilgrim safety.

Mr. Pawan Kalyan asked officials to keep pilgrims constantly alert and to clear dense thickets in sensitive areas to create clear lines of sight. He stressed the need for security measures that prevent pilgrims from becoming anxious over news of the leopard’s presence.