Heavy rush at Sabarimala

The Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala has been witnessing a heavy flow of pilgrims since the beginning of the annual pilgrim season on November 17. Pilgrims from different parts of the country, mostly the south, trek the holy hills braving incessant rain and traffic bottlenecks along many stretches.Pilgrims have to wait for five to six hours in thickly packed long-winding iron barricades for the holy darshan.

The water level in the Pampa river has gone up considerably following an heavy inflow from catchments in interior forests. Strong currents in the bathing ghats at Pampa have been posing problems for pilgrims taking their customary holy dip in the river (Pampa snanom) prior to the holy trek.

Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom stretcher service captain Thanchavur Damodaran says sanghom volunteers have been giving health tips over megaphones for pilgrims ascending the Neelimala and Appachimedu hills on the traditional trekking path.

Sabarimala has witnessed nine cardiac casualties since the beginning of the season. The Health Department has opened two cardiology centres at the hilltops of Appachimedu and Neelimala.

Sabarimala Executive Officer V.S. Jayakumar says the board has been maintaining a buffer stock of Aravana. One more Aravana distribution counter has been opened at the Prasadom complex in view of the heavy pilgrim influx.