Heavy rush at Sabarimala

More police personnel to be deployed from November 27

Pilgrims waiting for darshan at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam on Saturdayevening. Photo: Leju Kamal

The holy hillock of Sabarimala witnessed heavy rush on Saturday with hundreds of devotees visiting the Ayyappa Temple in the last 24 hours.

According to the police, as many as 35,000 pilgrims reached the Sannidhanam till Saturday afternoon, using the Virtual Queue system.

Long hours of wait

Pilgrims had to wait for hours together inside the barricades on the Sannidhanam-Marakkoottom stretch of the trekking path.

IG inspects Pulmedu

Inspector General of Police and joint police coordinator at Sabarimala K. Padmakumar reached the Sannidhanam through the Pulmedu route on Saturday.

The IG also inspected the Vandipperiyar-Sathram-Pulmedu route leading to Sabarimala Sannidhanam.

Mr. Padmakumar said the strength of police force at Sabarimala would be increased as and when required.

Additional police force would be deployed at Sabarimala from November 27.

Mr Padmakumar also said the Sathram Road was in a bad shape.

The situation of the road would be brought to the notice of the State government, he added.

Aska Lamps

More Aska lamps would be installed at Pulmedu where as many as 1.5 lakh pilgrims congregated on the occasion of Makaravilakku last year, Mr. Padmakumar said.

Mr. Unnirajan, Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch), Thiruvananthapuram, assumed charge as the new Police Special Officer at the Sannnidhanam on Saturday.

Cleaning Drive

Judge of the Kerala High Court B.P. Ray was among the pilgrims who visited the forest shrine on Saturday to offer prayers to Lord Ayyappa.

Mr. Ray also participated in the Punyam Poonkavanom cleaning drive that was held at the Sannidhanam.