AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi cancelled his plan to visit the victims of stampede at Pulmedu near Sabarimala as his helicopter could not land near Kumily in Kerala on Sunday.
Mr. Gandhi, who flew to Kumily from Kochi, had to return to Kochi without landing at the helipad at a private school ground at Valadi near Vandiperiyar in Idukki district because of heavy fog. Though another sortie was considered, it was later dropped.
Mr. Gandhi had planned to visit victims admitted to the community health centre at Vandiperiyar and taluk hospital at Kumily and also the accident site. (However, the special protection group providing security to him was not in favour of his visit to the accident site. So, he would have visited only the hospitals.)
The stampede on Friday had claimed the lives of 102 Sabarimala pilgrims. The Crime Branch police arrived in Kumily this morning for formal enquiry into the accident.
