2,700 police deployed for Giri Pradakshina; Minister announces closure of 221 schools on July 28

Home Minister V. Anitha addressing the media regarding the arrangements for the Giri Pradakshina of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, at the Collectorate in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. | Photo Credit: V. RAJU Andhra Pradesh Minister of Home Vangalapudi Anitha on Saturday (July 15, 2026) announced that about 2,700 police personnel will be deployed exclusively for security duties during the annual Giri Pradakshina of Simhachalam’s Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, scheduled for July 28. She also announced a holiday for 221 schools located along the Giri Pradakshina route in Gopalapatnam, Chinnagadili, Seethammadhara, and Pendurthi mandals on July 28, to ensure the safety of the students.The Minister chaired a review meeting with District Collector M. Abhishikth Kishore, Commissioner of Police Shankhabrata Bagchi, GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg, and other officials, to discuss the arrangements for the annual religious event.Later, addressing a press conference, Ms. Anitha stated that over five lakh people are expected to take part in the 32-km circumambulation around Simhagiri. She further said that 5,000 employees from various departments will be engaged in serving the devotees. While devotees are expected to begin the Giri Pradakshina from ‘Tholi Pavancha’ on July 28 in the early morning, the chariot of Lord Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy will commence its journey from Tolipavancha at 2 p.m. To regulate the crowd, 50 queue lines and 120 iron barricades are being installed at Tholi Pavancha.For the convenience of devotees, 28 help centres are being established along the Giri Pradakshina route. Each centre will be equipped with public address systems, lighting, signboards, medical facilities, carpets and other essential amenities. Seven special control rooms are being set up at Tholi Pavancha, Adavivaram Junction, Hanumanthawaka, Appughar, Madhavadhara, NSTL Gate and Old Gosala. Personnel from the police, temple administration, Health Department, and GVMC will coordinate services from these centres.A total of 31 medical camps and 22 ambulances will be stationed along the route. Mobile medical teams and special medical teams along the hill steps will remain available on both July 28 and 29. Additional medical facilities are also being arranged on the hill.To ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply, 115 water points, water bubbles and packaged drinking water will be made available along the route and on the hill. Special sanitation teams have been deployed to promptly clear food packets, including buttermilk, pulihora, and other items distributed to devotees. As many as 595 temporary toilets are being installed along the route in addition to the permanent facilities maintained by the temple authorities and GVMC.In the view of the devotees, who take a holy dip at Appughar and Jodugullapalem Beaches, the Minister said that the fisheries department has deployed 90 trained swimmers in three shifts, while continuous safety announcements will be made through public address systems.To facilitate transportation, APSRTC buses will operate in adequate numbers from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 28. On July 29, special buses will operate between the hilltop and foothill from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m.. In addition, 50 APSRTC buses will provide free services from the hilltop to the foothill throughout the day, along with buses operated by the temple administration. Published - July 25, 2026 07:43 pm IST