Heavy rush, toll delays at Mannanur check post lead to massive jams, affecting Srisailam-bound traffic.
Anantapur: A traffic jam extending up to six kilometers was witnessed on the Srisailam highway in the Nagarkurnool district of Telangana on Sunday after huge crowds of devotees thronged Saleshwaram Jatara being held for three days.
Sources said the jam occurred mainly due to the delay in paying toll tax at Mannanur check post in Amrabad mandal. The toll fee was collected by the forest department from vehicles proceeding to Saleshwaram.
Traffic jam in the forest caused inconvenience to devotees, including women and children. Volunteers and forest department staff cleared the traffic. Every year, the jatra is held at the Saleshwaram Lingamaiah Swamy temple on the occasion of Chaitra Purnima. Devotees from both Telangana and AP attend the three-day Saleshwaram fete.
With Sunday and continuous holidays, a large number of devotees queued up at the temple. The long traffic jam had an impact on vehicles heading to Srisailam temple.
