Andhra Pradesh Deploys 2,700 Police, Closes 221 Schools for Simhachalam Giri Pradakshina

The Andhra Pradesh government has announced large-scale security and logistical arrangements for the annual Giri Pradakshina at Simhachalam's Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple, scheduled for July 28. Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha stated on Saturday that approximately 2,700 police personnel will be deployed exclusively for security duties during the event.

To ensure the safety of students, 221 schools located along the procession route in Gopalapatnam, Chinnagadili, Seethammadhara, and Pendurthi mandals will remain closed on July 28. The decision was taken after a review meeting chaired by the Minister, attended by District Collector M. Abhishikth Kishore, Police Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi, GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg, and other officials.

Addressing the media, Ms. Anitha said that over five lakh devotees are expected to participate in the 32-kilometre circumambulation around Simhagiri. Around 5,000 employees from various departments will be engaged in serving the pilgrims. The Giri Pradakshina is expected to begin early morning from ‘Tholi Pavancha’, while the chariot of the deity will start its journey at 2 p.m. from the same point. To manage crowds, 50 queue lines and 120 iron barricades are being installed at Tholi Pavancha.

Twenty-eight help centres are being established along the route, each equipped with public address systems, lighting, signboards, medical facilities, carpets, and other amenities. Seven special control rooms will operate at Tholi Pavancha, Adavivaram Junction, Hanumanthawaka, Appughar, Madhavadhara, NSTL Gate, and Old Gosala. Personnel from the police, temple administration, Health Department, and GVMC will coordinate from these centres.

Medical arrangements include 31 medical camps and 22 ambulances stationed along the route, along with mobile medical teams and special teams on the hill steps on July 28 and 29. Additional medical facilities are also being set up on the hill. For drinking water, 115 water points, water bubbles, and packaged drinking water will be available. Special sanitation teams have been deployed to clear food packets and other waste promptly. A total of 595 temporary toilets are being installed, supplementing permanent facilities maintained by the temple authorities and GVMC.

For devotees taking a holy dip at Appughar and Jodugullapalem beaches, the fisheries department has deployed 90 trained swimmers in three shifts, and continuous safety announcements will be made via public address systems.

Transportation arrangements include adequate APSRTC buses operating from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 28. On July 29, special buses will run between the hilltop and foothill from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additionally, 50 APSRTC buses will provide free services from the hilltop to the foothill throughout the day, along with buses operated by the temple administration.