Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple: 14 Priests Among 140 Employees Found Corona Positive

New Delhi: People can continue to visit the famous Tirumala Tirupati Balaji temple, the top official of the temple's board has said amid a controversy over priests and employees getting infected with the highly contagious coronavirus.

The temple's board decided to re-open it in mid-June, in line with the centre's "Unlock" plans to handhold the country out of the pandemic in phases.

There are no plans to stop public darshan at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji temple, said YV Subba Reddy, chairperson of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Board.

Fourteen priests were among 140 temple employees who tested positive for coronavirus, which is known to spread faster in crowded places, hence the need for social distancing, according to the authorities.

Seventy have recovered, Mr Reddy said, adding most of those who got infected with coronavirus are from the Andhra Pradesh Police who were working with temple.

"Only one of them is having severe symptoms," the TTD chairperson said.

"We have no plan to close Tirumala temple. Senior priests will not be put on duty. Priests and employees have requested separate accommodation," Mr Reddy said, adding a separate facility for making food for the employees will be set up.