With the annual festival of Maha Shivaratri approaching, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday conducted a high-level review on the situation at Srisailam and other prominent Shiva temples across the state, focusing on the increasing influx of devotees and the adequacy of facilities being provided.
Officials briefed the Chief Minister that the footfall at Srisailam has already surged significantly and is expected to rise further in the coming days, particularly during the Shivaratri peak period. In response, the Chief Minister directed departments to implement robust crowd management measures and ensure that no devotee faces hardship.
Special Focus on Shivaratri Crowd Management
During the review meeting, the Chief Minister emphasized that Srisailam, being one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, attracts lakhs of pilgrims from multiple states during Shivaratri. Any lapse in planning or execution could lead to serious inconvenience and safety risks.
He instructed the Endowments Department and the Home Department to closely coordinate with district authorities, police, and temple managements to regulate queues, streamline darshan schedules, and maintain law and order without resorting to excessive force.
Ministers Asked to Personally Monitor Arrangements
The Chief Minister directed Endowments Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy and Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha to personally oversee preparations and remain in constant touch with ground-level officials.
He stressed that arrangements such as drinking water supply, sanitation, medical facilities, temporary shelters, food distribution, and traffic regulation must be treated as top priorities, especially considering the long waiting hours devotees are experiencing.
Senior Officials Attend Review
The review meeting was attended by Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand, Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta, along with senior officials from the Endowments, Revenue, Health, and Police departments.
Officials assured the Chief Minister that additional personnel, barricading systems, CCTV monitoring, and emergency response teams are being deployed to manage the anticipated surge during the festival days.
Devotee Anger Over Ground-Level Conditions
While the government has stepped up its monitoring, several devotees have voiced serious concerns over the conditions on the ground. Social media platforms were flooded with visuals and complaints highlighting long queues, lack of drinking water, and poor crowd regulation at Srisailam.
శ్రీశైలం సహా వివిధ శివాలయాల్లో భక్తుల రద్దీ, వసతులపై గౌరవ ముఖ్యమంత్రి శ్రీ నారా చంద్రబాబు నాయుడు నేడు సమీక్ష నిర్వహించారు...
— CMO Andhra Pradesh (@AndhraPradeshCM) February 10, 2026
In contrast, another viral post showed visibly distressed devotees expressing anger over what they described as inadequate basic amenities. Some claimed that even drinking water was unavailable after waiting for hours in queues.
ఇంత దారుణం ఎప్పుడూ చూడలేదు. అసలు ప్రభుత్వం ఏం చేస్తుంది. తాగడానికి మంచి నీళ్లు కూడా లేవు... pic.twitter.com/w0ePiTWyZ8
— Naveen YSJ Vizag (@YSJ2024) February 10, 2026
Balancing Devotion and Administration
The contrasting narratives underscore the challenge before the administration — balancing the spiritual aspirations of devotees with logistical realities at one of the country’s most revered pilgrimage centers.
The Chief Minister reiterated that temple visits should remain a peaceful and fulfilling experience for devotees and directed officials to act swiftly on complaints emerging from the ground. He warned that negligence at any level would be viewed seriously.
Heightened Vigil Until Festival Concludes
With Shivaratri still days away, the state government has indicated that continuous monitoring will remain in place until the festival concludes. Additional reviews are expected if crowd pressure increases beyond projections.
Devotees, meanwhile, are urging authorities to translate review meetings and directives into visible improvements on the ground, ensuring that faith is met with dignity, safety, and basic human comfort.
