Anantapur: A ropeway was closed down and devotees were also not permitted for the holy dip at Patalaganga after a rockfall near the Krishnaveni Matha statue area at Srisailam in Kurnool district on Sunday. The debris also interrupted ongoing works at the pushkar ghat after rocks hit the main road.

Srisailam Temple authorities had taken up construction activity behind the Krishnaveni Matha statue en-route to Patalaganga and were using machinery on the hillock. It’s believed the digging weakened the rocks on top of the hill. The falling of rocks was seen throughout Sunday.

Endowment commissioner Y.V. Anuradha and Srisailam Temple executive officer Bharath Kumar Guptha rushed the spot and directed officials to not allow devotees at Patalaganga and also directed the closure of the ropeway to avoid untoward incidents.

The falling of rocks has also troubled the ongoing works for the Krishna Pushkaralu at Srisailam. The Patalaganga ghat is set to be the main ghat and the panda pradanam for the devotees coming in from all over the state and country.

The Endowment commissioner has asked for the clearance of debris to be done on war footing and also asked the irrigation authorities to complete works on the ghat well ahead of schedule.

Meanwhile, Endowment minister Manikyala Rao and noted spiritual scholar Chaganti Koteswara Rao visited Srisailam for a darshan of Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy and Goddess Bramarambhika on Sunday.

The duo also planted saplings at the outer ring road at Srisailam. Minister Manikyala Rao said a ‘Bhramari Vanam’ would come up across 15 acres of land at Srisailam. The proposed temple town will be similar to Tirumala, he said.