The police have stepped up security arrangements at Sabarimala for the safety of pilgrims visiting the hillock during the Makaravilakku festival. Sannidhanam Police Special Officer Arul R.B. Krishna has requested the pilgrims to avoid carrying baggage to the Sannidhanam. He said 1,700 civil police officers and 150 police officials would be deployed at the Sannidhanam and other places where pilgrims congregate to worship the Makarajyoti on the Makaravilakku day.
Mr. Krishna said the police force would be deployed in 20 sectors under 20 Deputy Superintendents of Police. Special security arrangements would be made at points along the Marakkoottom-Pandithavalom stretch of the Sannidhanam, he said.
The police would ensure the cooperation of other departments for the safe return of devotees from the hillock after the Makarajyoti darshan. Metal detectors had been installed at various major points at Sabarimala. Those coming through the Pulmedu route too were being screened, he said.
Devotees returning from Sabarimala would be diverted to the Chandranandan Road through the Bailey Bridge to avoid congestion at the Valiya Nadappanthal as well as the Lower Tirumuttom, he said.
Mr. Krishna said the number of pilgrims using the Virtual Queue system of the Police Department had registered a considerable increase during the Makaravilakku season. Around 60,000 pilgrims had used the facility from December 31 to January 3. The hillock continued to witness heavy rush as the flow of pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka had gone up from the very first day of the Makaravilakku season.
The Travancore Devaswom Board has been keeping the Ayyappa temple open from 3 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. to facilitate darshan for the maximum number of pilgrims.
