The temple city of Tirupati witnessed a massive turnout of devotees from across the country on Sunday evening (September 28, 2025) to witness the revered “Garuda Seva” ritual held as part of the annual Srivari Salakatla Brahmotsavams. The APSRTC central bus station and Tirupati railway station were busy with passenger influx from Saturday evening (September 27, 2025). The overwhelming crowd far exceeded the available services, leading to prolonged waiting times and a scramble for seats on the buses. Although the APSRTC had announced plans to operate three buses per minute from Tirupati to Tirumala hills, the arrangements fell short of accommodating the overwhelming turnout of devotees. The Alipiri security checkpoint and toll plaza experienced heavy traffic congestion due to long queues for the mandatory security screening.