Daily entries capped at 1 lakh, spot bookings at 20,000: Sabarimala tightens rules as crowds swell

In Kottayam, a bus carrying 33 pilgrims from Karnataka overturned near Erumely while overtaking another vehicle on a slope. Three passengers suffered minor injuries and left the hospital after treatment.

Heavy crowding

Visuals showed heavy crowding at the 18 steps and along the Pamba-Sannidhanam route, with long delays in movement. TDB president K Jayakumar said officers would stop devotees at Nilakkal to reduce congestion at Pamba. He said teams would distribute water bottles in the queues and that seven more spot-booking counters would open at Nilakkal to reduce people travelling to Pamba for it. “I have never seen such a massive and dangerous crowd on the temple grounds till now. It appears some people cut the line to jump in front. Even I am scared seeing the large crowd here,” he said. 

ADGP S Sreejith said the crowd inflated  after 37,000 people sought spot entry despite a court-mandated cap of 20,000 and after virtual-Q holders arrived on days other than those allotted to them. He told pilgrims to follow the queue system and arrive as per bookings made. The TDB brought in 200 sanitation workers from Tamil Nadu to clear toilets at the shrine.

‘Failed to provide basic facilities’

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, V D Satheesan, claimed that the government and the TDB have “failed” to provide basic facilities, like drinking water, to the pilgrims and that adequate police personnel were not deputed. Satheesan said the government’s stand that proper arrangements could not be made due to the model code of conduct being in force, was “ridiculous” as preparations ought to have been made much earlier.

He alleged that those who organised the Global Ayyappa Sangam with political motives, spoiled this year’s pilgrimage for devotees. He sought the urgent intervention of the Kerala High Court in the matter.

Former Union Minister of State V Muraleedharan made similar allegations against the state government and the TDB

Karnataka issues advisory on ‘brain-eating amoeba’

The Karnataka Health Department issued a safety advisory to pilgrims after cases of Naegleria fowleri infections were reported in Kerala.

The advisory asked pilgrims to avoid contact with stagnant water and to use nose clips while bathing. It said symptoms such as fever, severe headache, vomiting, or confusion within seven days of water exposure require immediate medical attention.

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