2nd Aug, 2010: Thanks to the lax attitude of forest officials, attacks by tigers on humans are increasing by the day in Tirupati.
Kalyani, an 8-year-old girl hailing from Penchulapadu near Guntakal in Anantapur district, was injured in a tiger attack on the wee hours of Sunday, when she was heading towards Tirumala, on the footpath near the 45th Mile point.
The girl was rushed to Ruia Hospital by passersby, where she was declared out of danger.
This is the second incident within a week in the area. Earlier, a 3-year-old girl Kokila, hailing from Srikalahasti, was attacked by a leopard at the 7th Mile point on Alipiri Footpath near the First Ghat Road last Tuesday.
Devotees have lodged a complaint with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam's Executive Officer IYR Krishna Rao and Chief Conservator of Forests (Tirupati Wildlife Division) P Mallikarjuna Rao. They demanded that the authorities take immediate steps to make the ghat road safe from wild animals.
Krishna Rao assured the complainants that the TTD will formulate steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents on the Ghat Road.
He said that he would soon convene a meeting with the forest department officials.
