Leopard sighting near Alipiri footpath to Tirumala triggers panic among devotees

A leopard perched on a tree near the 2,754th step of the Alipiri footpath to Tirumala triggered panic among devotees on Tuesday, with several of them fleeing in alarm after spotting the wild cat.

The sighting caused a commotion among devotees trekking along the route, with some running helter-skelter to move away from the animal.

On receiving information about the leopard’s movement, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Vigilance and Security personnel, along with Forest Department officials, rushed to the spot and launched an operation to drive the animal back into the forest.

Officials appealed to devotees to trek in groups, particularly those accompanied by children and infants. They also advised devotees not to leave children unattended while passing through the forested stretch.