ANANTAPUR: Drilling in the hillock area at Srisailam to build a clock tower was done unscientifically despite Kurnool Superintendent of Police Ake Ravikrishna warning of problems, sources said. This was the reason for Monday’s rockfall which resulted in the road being closed. Fortunately, the rocks rolled down when there was no devotee on the way towards Patalanganga. “If the incident had happened during the Krishna Pushkaralu who would have been responsible,” a senior official asked.
Falling of rocks and debris was causing panic among devotees at the Srisailam temple. The falling rocks interrupted the ongoing works at the pushkar ghat. Mr Ravikrishna had reportedly cautioned the Srisailam temple authorities to be cautious, because of precisely such a possibility, two months ago. The temple authorities had entered an agreement with the contractor and issued orders in September 2013. About Rs 6 crore was sanctioned and Rs 5.06 crore was given to the contractor.
The contractor had dug the hill about 20 metres towards bathing ghats at Patalaganga, the site where pilgrims take a holy dip. Sources said endowment minister Manikyala Rao had expressed anguish over the negligence of the contractor who did not stick to rules while digging the hill. Endowment commissioner Y.V. Anuradha was directed to take action. Mr Ravikrishna has been staying at Srisailam. He walked 6 km on the pedestrian route on Tuesday and directed the staff to prepare a plan of action to avoid a stampede at all stages during the Pushkaralu.
