Pall of gloom in Srirangam

The rather busy therku vasal where several shops are located, wore a deserted look. The buzz was missing in front of the Raja Gopuram in the temple town since 6 pm. The Therkku Uthira Veedhi where houses of several priests were located was deserted and the few who ventured out on the streets were talking about the Chief Minister’s condition and praying for her speedy recovery. “I adore her as she is a strong woman and committed to bring development in the state. I heard the news about her death but fortunately, soon, the news was found to be untrue and I was relieved,” said Ranganayaki, an 80-year-old retired teacher who was heading back to her house after worshiping at Manavala Mamuni sannidhi. 

Meanwhile, K Murali (67), a retired telecom employee from Chennai who had come to worship, said, “The queue for darshan was small and within seconds I could have darshan. Only when I came out of the temple, I was told about the news on the Chief Minister and realised that the less devotee movement was due to that.” In order to maintain peace, the police have asked to close the shops by 5.30 pm itself. “By 6 pm, we could witness heavy posse of police and the entire area was emptied within minutes owing to the condition of the Chief Minister,” said Balan, a shop keeper near Renga Renga gopuram. “I cannot believe it,” said Devakanya another senior citizen who came out of the house at South Chithirai Veedhi. She recalled that the Jayalalithaa has come here on several occasions and we felt those days were like a festival. She is good and she has to do good and so God will save her to serve the mankind,” she said.