Sabarimala tragedy not due to landslide

KOCHI, JAN 22: The recent tragedy near Pamba in Sabarimala, which claimed over 50 lives and left many injured on the makara jyothi day on January 14, was not caused due to a landslide, according to the Sabarimala Special Commissioner, K P Balachandran.

In a detailed report submitted to the Kerala High Court about the cause of the mishap, the Special Commissioner stated that “there was slipping of a very little quantity of soil. There was no land-sliding as such so as to cause any havoc by itself. The mishap occurred when the pilgrims after witnessing the makara jyothi on Jan 14, rushed down the crowded hill to return to their destinations”. Some pilgrims, who had crowded at the site of the KSEB sub station, tried to find an easy way out by getting down the hill vertically. Either in that process or on stepping on to some tender coconuts heaped nearby, one or two pilgrims fell down.

The Special Commissioner filed the report as part of his statutory obligation under the Travancore DewaswomBoard Act requiring him to file periodical reports to the High Court during every Sabarimala season.