Andhra Pradesh - Tirumala   

Tight security for Sonia's Tirumala visit

Staff Reporter

Combing intensified

ALL GEARED UP: Senior police and district officials reviewing arrangements for Sonia Gandhi's visit at the makeshift helipad on the veterinary university campus in Tirupati on Wednesday. — Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar

TIRUMALA: Unprecedented security arrangements are being made for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairman and AICC president Sonia Gandhi's visit to the twin temple towns of Tirumala and Tirupati on November 25.

Ms. Sonia Gandhi will arrive in a special aircraft from New Delhi and reach at the Tirupati airport at 10.30 a.m., accompanied by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, while Governor Rameshwar Thakur will reach here the previous day.

Security forces have been deployed all along the route from the airport to S.V. University grounds where Sonia, along with Governor Rameshwar Thakur and Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy is scheduled to participate in the `All-India Rachanatmaka Sammelanam' and the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Rayalaseema Seva Samithi (RASS)-- a voluntary social service organisation.

The police have intensified combing operations on both the ghat roads of Tirumala, as she is scheduled to offer prayers at the temple of Lord Venkateswara. Survelliance has been intensified at all the bus and railway stations and other public places including hotels and lodges.

The Special Protection Group (SPG) officials who have already reached Tirumala also got closeted with top police officials and supervised the security arrangements besides issuing strict guide lines to be followed at the helipad and at the SVU grounds.

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Tight security for Sonia's Tirumala visit

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