Barefoot devotees bear the brunt

VIJAYAWADA: Devotees visiting Sri Kanaka Durga temple on Indrakeeladri in the hot summer are facing severe hardship as there is no shade along the ghat road.Walking barefoot on the ghat road from the parking lot to the hill shrine under the scorching heat, is like fire walking for devotees. A majority of devotees prefer to leave their footwear in their vehicles as normally there is a heavy rush at chappal stand at the temple.In the summer vacation, more and more devotees visit the temple on weekends. The temple authorities who claim that their main focus is on improvement of pilgrim amenities on the hill shrine, has done little to lessen the hardship of devotees in the hot summer. They may erect pandals to protect the devotees from the scorching heat. But nothing has been done.Kiran who visited the temple with her two children, said they developed blisters for walking on the ghat road barefoot in the hot summer. She cursed the temple authorities for not making any arrangements to protect the pilgrims from the scorching heat.Speaking to Express, temple executive officer M Raghunath said they  laid a carpet up to the parking lot on the hill for the comfort of devotees. The temple surroundings are also being cooled by pouring water frequently. If necessary, more area will be covered with carpet to ensure the comfort of devotees walking on the ghat road barefoot, he said.