Russian woman pilgrim stuck in Tirupati since March assured of all help to return

Both mother and daughter had come to India in February as part of their pan India tour to visit all ISKCON temples and other shrines in the country, the official of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.

A 32-year-old Russian woman pilgrim, stranded here since March following the nationwide lockdown, was on Wednesday assured of all help to return to her country by a top TTD official said.

Employees queue to board a bus at foothill of Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala on the reopening day of the shrine, during the ongoing COVID-19 nationwide lockdown, in Tirupati. (PTI)

The woman’s mother, who is stuck at Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, would also be brought to Tirupati at the earliest, he said.

Both mother and daughter had come to India in February as part of their pan India tour to visit all ISKCON temples and other shrines in the country, the official of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, which manages the Lord Venkateshwara shrine here, told PTI.

TTD Chairman Y V Subba Reddy, who learnt of her plight through a media report, sent a representative to meet the woman, staying at a private hotel here, with an assurance that all help would be extended to her till she returned home, he said.

The official said that on her request, both women would be allowed into the hill ancient shrine through a special entry to offer their obeisance to Lord Venkateswara.

He quoted Reddy as saying that he would consult the Russian Embassy and make all necessary arrangements for the safe return journey of the women back to their country. PTI COR APR RAVINDRANATH APR RAVINDRANATH