An unidentified body was found in a water tank atop Indrakeeladri, abode of goddess Kanaka Durga, here on Monday.
One Town police said the temple staff retrieved a highly-decomposed body of a male from the water tank at around 6.30 a.m.
The deceased was 30-year-old and death is estimated to have taken place four days ago.
The reasons for his death are not known. The police shifted the body to mortuary for conducting post mortem.
The police, however, said they were yet to confirm whether it was a murder or accidental death. The temple has been using the same water in Annadanam complex for drinking, cooking and other purposes.
The priests, however, said that the water was not being used in the sanctum sanctorum.
The temple management immediately stopped annadanm (food distribution) at the complex. The temple priests performed ‘suddhi' (purification ritual) at the complex.
The ‘annadanam' was delayed by three hours. The priests said the ‘suddhi' inside the temple was not necessary as they were not using the water from that tank.
The temple staff is stated to have found the body accidentally in the water tank.
The sanitary staff climbed up the water tank to clear the pipes as water was not flowing freely and found the body. The temple constructed two water tanks to meet the requirements of the devotees.