The image of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam on Sunday suffered a severe blow when the infuriated pilgrims broke the iron gates of the queue compartments and barged into the corridors of the Vaikuntam complex for the darshan of Lord Venkateswara.

Pilgrims, enraged at the interminable waiting hours, not only raised slogans against the management but also resorted to gate crashing. In all the iron gates of four compartments in the labyrinthine complex have been reportedly damaged. The TTDs Vigilance and Security personnel and the local police immediately rushed to the spot and pacified the pilgrims and brought things under control.